Pan final back in D’ Big Yard

Now title sponsor vows to pull $$ from Junior Carnival …mas fraternity to boycott Pan Trinbago’s ‘Champs in Concert’

February 18, 2001
By Terry Joseph

The decision, taken after a meeting that lasted more than four hours, includes a requirement for the Junior Carnival, which takes place on the same day and utilises the same venue, to start at the Savannah and disperse at the City Centre.

Reversal of the traditional route, is aimed at making the facility available to Pan Trinbago at an early hour, to prepare it for that night’s Panorama final.

Friday’s emergency meeting, called by NCC chairman Claude Clarke, came after Thursday’s announcement by Pan Trinbago that their premier event would be moved to Skinner Park in San Fernando, to facilitate the Children’s Carnival Parade.

Over the years, producers of both events have argued about the time at which the children’s show ends which, Pan Trinbago says, is often far too late and results in a scramble to get the facility ready for the pan show.

But yesterday, Sunshine Snacks, the Junior Carnival’s title sponsor, said it would withdraw from the event, if the parade starts at the Savannah and the mas fraternity has vowed to boycott Pan Trinbago’s “Champs in Concert”, which takes place on the Saturday after Carnival.

Sunshine Snacks marketing director Barbara Mouttet told the Sunday Express her company had given ample warning of its position in the matter.

“We made it very clear that we are not going to sponsor Junior Carnival if its starts on the western side of the Savannah and we were assured by National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) chairman Richard Afong that it would not happen,” Mouttet said.

“We are shocked at the decision by the NCC Board, since the starting of the parade on the western side of the Savannah was not even a consideration when talks were going on. This route was tried about five years ago and was absolutely chaotic.

“Just imagine 120 bands gathering at that end, all waiting for hours to cross the stage, not jumping up and playing mas, but standing in the sun with no bathrooms or refreshments. Last time they did that, there were children fainting everywhere and the parade never really went downtown,” Mouttet said.

“The first 20 bands crossed the stage with no one in the stands except the judges and those who got to South Quay were in for a fresh set of confusion.

“The parking was not able to cope with it and where we were told to set up our refreshments stand, near the police station, the children had to compete with taxis and buses. I don’t know how some of them weren’t killed.

“We cannot participate in that again. We do not think it is fun for the kids. Our purpose is for the kids to have fun and enjoy Carnival and we do not think our sponsorship of this arrangement will serve the purpose. We agreed to go to Adam Smith Square, but the bandleaders were against that.

“We have also told them we will leave the Savannah at a specific time and make provisions for bands that may still be on the route after that time.

Frankly, I see no reason why the children could not get off the stage by 3-4 p.m., so the people who want to have their show can have their show. It is not a big space and I don’t see why they cannot clean the place in time for their show,” Mouttet said.

Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold has been quoted as saying that sponsors should not dictate to the producers of shows what form those events must take. He said sponsors were involved in these events either for mileage or a genuine love for the art or a combination of both, not as part of the production team.

Contacted yesterday, Clarke said: “If Sunshine Snacks wish to pull out, that is their prerogative, but the Board decision was near unanimous and simply cannot be overturned at this time.”

At Friday night’s marathon NCC Board meeting, all but two of seven commissioners present voted in favour of the pan final being returned to the Savannah. One member abstained and NCBA chairman Richard Afong voted against the move.

Afong said: “Everybody seems to be able to tell the NCBA anything. We cannot tell Tuco or Pan Trinbago when to start or stop their show or which route it should take, but apparently everybody believes that the mas fraternity is a bobolee.

“But there is a backlash. The mas fraternity is very upset, both junior and senior bandleaders have been saying they will boycott Pan Trinbago’s “Champs in Concert”.