Festivals Commission – By Sharon N Simon
Festivals Commission Promises Payment
The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission has committed to settling outstanding payments to Schools Panorama participants, this week, following months of delays that sparked a “no pay, no play” ultimatum from the pan community.
Elizabeth “Lisa” Makhoul, Chairperson of the Festivals Commission, told this publication that “the situation is being resolved and the outstanding monies would be settled and paid this coming week.”
The statement comes as frustration among arrangers, teachers, and pan orchestras reached a boiling point at Panache Steel Orchestra’s “Lovers Rock” Block-o-rama on Friday evening, where nine senior bands gathered while voicing longstanding grievances about delayed payments dating back to last October.
“Same Tune Every Year”
Maurisha Potter, captain of Panache, expressed skepticism. “Every year, with the Schools Panorama, it’s literally the same tune, and I’ve been in the pan for 20 plus years,” Potter said. “International artists will always get paid on time, but when it comes to the locals, it’s like we have to wait and wait. We need to put some respect on the schools, on the arrangers, on the tuners, on the teachers.”
Cuthbert “Tiny” Thomas of Ebonites backed the boycott threat. “It’s quite unfortunate that we’ve reached this stage again. It’s nothing new,” Thomas said. “If it’s going to reach this point where the arrangers, the school, the teachers have to make a stand, I am in full support of them.”
Unified Front Rejects Selective Meetings
Derel Jarvis of Original Steel Orchestra revealed the Festivals Commission requested a meeting with select representatives, but the group insisted on collective participation. “They want to meet with the three people. We, as a unified body – we said we’re not meeting unless it’s everybody,” Jarvis explained. “We are all stakeholders. There’s no leader.”
Robin Margetson contextualized the broader issue. “Overseas artists demand half the money before they reach Antigua and half before they leave. And our price is much lower. I shudder to think why we must treat our own like that.”
More Than Money at Stake
Despite the financial impasse, Friday’s block-o-rama showcased why pannists continue fighting. The Pan Academy, featuring students as young as six years, opened the evening as nine senior bands demonstrated the unity sustaining pan culture.
“The panyard is an environment where it’s supposed to cater to teaching discipline,” said Malik Smith, Panache’s arranger. “If you send your child to a panyard, I promise you, if you had problems with that child at home, you would definitely notice differences coming back.”
Jarvis cited musician TJ “the king,” who credited steelpan with saving him from gang involvement. “He was heading down the wrong path – actually in gangs and getting into a lot of problems. For him to now have masters in music, he said it saved his life. I see that in the children. This is a healthy hobby.”
Veteran Eustace “Gatooks” Harris counseled patience while demanding recognition. “Outside of the money, just try and make the art form as important as possible because we need it,” he said.
As the pan community awaits this week’s promised payment, the question remains whether the commitment by the Festivals Commission will finally break a cycle that has persisted for over two decades—or whether next year will bring the same tune once again.
