No cuts in Panorama prizes

Officials of Pan Trinbago and the board of the National Carnival Commission agree to maintain the existing prize structure for Panorama 2018.

However, a settlement on the Players Remittance, remains in abeyance.

Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz has confirmed this.

Despite the present downturn in the economy, the governing steelband body and the NCC board agreed to retain the existing prize structure assigned to champions of Panorama across four categories.

They are: Single Pan, Small (conventional) Medium and Large.

The Players Remittance, which is determined by the government was standardised at $1,000. In 2017, the figure was reduced to $500.

 Designed by Pan Trinbago secretary Richard Forteau the Players Remittance Programme is fondly referred to as the “Forteau Plan.” The cabinet of the late Patrick Manning accepted the proposal advanced by the former Patrick Arnold-led Pan Trinbago executive.

Negotiations between Pan Trinbago and the NCC led by Colin Lucas regarding this year’s remittances stalled over the Christmas holidays.

 Lucas reportedly communicated to Diaz his inability to settle on a figure back in December, in the absence of line minister Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly, who was out of the country.

Diaz said, “I told the NCC chairman I want money to pay the players.”