We make steelpans here yet import them from Trinidad

Apr 09, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I, the undersigned, was pleased to read, if belatedly, the article headed ‘Pan-O-Rama.’ As a member of the steelpan fraternity, I must say that while much of it was okay, I found some key points to be both extremely misleading and disturbing. Before I state my concern, I will first give an over view of my credentials.
OP Steelpan (Music) Nation – of which I am the Founder/Proprietor, is a full service establishment, the leading supplier of quality steelpans and accessories for over thirty-five years. Our clients are both local (Allied Arts Unit, Ministry of Education; churches; private schools; community groups; individuals) and to foreign clients from the U.S.A, Barbados, Brazil, Belize, and French Guiana. We are currently negotiating an order to supply our products to the Bahamas.
Beginning sometime in the year 1995 discussions with persons including myself, Prof. Joycelynne Loncke; Mr. Roy Geddes, AA; MS, Mrs. Mildred Lowe; Ms. Edith Peters, MS (deceased); and many others were held at various times to find a way to revive the declining steelband art form. In our deliberations we identified the need for more specialist steelpan makers and to propagate the art form in schools. Having a desire to make a meaningful contribution to this revival, I applied to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). I was sucessfully awarded a partial fellowship within the framework of UNESCO Fellowship Program which enabled me to commence steelpan technology training in Pittsburgh, USA. .
It is from this professional background that I note the following observations of the article and offer my comments: “The latest technologically developed pans will be required to be imported from Trinidad, the home of pan….”
This statement belies an ignorance of the significant Guyanese contribution to steelpan technology, particularly as exemplified by Mr. Phil Solomon. Born in British Guiana, by age seventeen he was making steelpans and arranging music for his first steelband – The Bell Boys. He formed the Atlantic Symphony Steel Orchestra in 1966, and later the Pegasus Sound Waves. He received national recognition when he won, ‘Musician of the Year’ awarded by the National Arts Council of Guyana for his composition, ‘O Martyr to Cuffy We Sing’.
He is most significant is in the area of design and construction, inventing and perfecting the trademarked Grooveless Method and The Synchronized Note Placement System. Today, his company Solomon Steelpan Company not only supplies steelpans worldwide, but also works with community based organizations, using them as a means of engaging young people in music. OP Steelpan (Music) Nation is an offspring of the Solomon school.
On the issue of the supposed need for importation, it should be noted that beginning in 2008, steelpan pieces were imported to represent Guyana at Carifesta X. Let me quote from Caribbean Net News published on Sat, April 26, 2008, “…. Government has contributed $30M for this venture.” Over the last nine (9) years this has been happening, as recent as late 2016.
I strongly believe neither the Hon. Min. Dr. Rupert Roopnarine nor Minister within the Ministry of Education, Hon. Nicolette Henry are aware of this. This question was asked to Mr. Vincent Alexander – special Advisor to Education Minister “Is it necessary for the Ministry of Education to have to purchase/buy steelpan instruments from Trinidadian pan makers for our schools in Guyana, as is about to happen in 2016?” After consultation he told us, after making it clear to us, that the answer was not his, but what was given to him:
“The Ministry has a New Policy; from here onward the ministry will be importing steelpan instruments from Trinidad for two sections of our schools steelband orchestras.” The Administrator of Allied Arts Unit, Mrs. Desiree Wyles-Ogle was asked the same question – her answer, “CSME.”
It should be noted that at the time of the writing of the ‘Pan-O-Rama’ article, an Allied Arts Unit steelpan order from Trinidad, was lingering at a port of entry, waiting for clearance.
“….. the local level of pan tuning must be raised to international standards” Well, this statement is not only erroneous, but it’s also the epitome of ignorance of local capacity. Guyana already produces steelpans to international standards and has tuning talent. Our Belizean client admitted he’d rather have our Guyana steelpan sound than the ones he heard from elsewhere. All those instruments he acquired had the label, ‘Made in Guyana’.
Space does not permit to address other issues but I should note three critical issues surrounding state management of the steelpan sector that constitute the reason that myself and other individuals refrain from participation in Panorama:
(1) The use of the state steel pan for personal gain, an issue that was in June of 2015 by Transparency Guyana Inc, but which had not been resolved as of, January of last year as covered in the article “Transparency Group raps Department of Culture over steel pan probe”, January 22, 2016 in the newspapers. It has not been resolved up to now.
(2) The procurement of a Trinidadian national to tune up the state-owned steelpans in 2014, 2015, 2016 sometimes twice a year, and the complete misrepresentations offered as justification to the National Assembly. (Notice Paper No 309 (Q 209 Opp. 206) published on 2014-04-02).
(3) The recent procurement of a foreign steelpan order, through a less than transparent process.
In closing, I am hereby appealing to His Excellency David A. Granger President of the Republic of Guyana, to look closely at this matter. Investment in the local creative sector has been a key policy position of our new administration, and continued external procurement is contradictory to that policy. As such, we are requesting an urgent meeting with the key policy makers and officers to discuss the way forward.
Oliver Pross
Steelpan Technologist

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