The first President’s Pan Camp concluded on Friday 19th July 2024 with an impressive display of talent from our 21 young pan campers, who mastered Mical Teja’s “DNA” in just two and a half days. It was a fitting choice and a remarkable achievement. Our facilitators were deeply moved witnessing these youngsters, who started as strangers and now depart as friends, showcase their newfound skills.
“The Panyard; a model for social change” was the theme of The President’s Pan Camp, a five-day camp for 21 young people, ages 12- 21, on the grounds of The President’s House from July 15-19, 2024. The concept sought to duplicate the key structures and principles that apply to teaching the steelpan in the panyard into a five-day session for students who have no prior experience on the steelpan. Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo O.R.T.T., President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, formally launched the camp on Monday July 15, 2024 at 9am at the President’s House.
The Pan Camp was divided daily into two sessions; an instructional session in the morning, and an interactive session in the afternoon. During the instructional morning sessions, the campers were taught how to play the steelpan by some of the finest and most gifted pan musicians in the country. During the afternoon interactive sessions, 50 young persons joined the campers for seminar-type interactive sessions on a wide range of topical and pressing social, cultural and personal issues, led by some of the country’s leading pan professionals and cultural icons.
21 students, ages 12-21, who had no prior experience playing the pan participated in the five-day camp. These students were sourced through The Cotton Tree Foundation, The Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Police Youth Clubs in Trinidad and in Tobago and The Girl Guides Association of Trinidad and Tobago
Her Excellency is an ardent advocate for culture as a vehicle for social change and in her inauguration speech spoke to the fact that the “discipline and the structure that the panyard brings into the lives of young people each year in the lead up to Carnival combine to create one of the more effective youth delinquency programmes available in the country.” The key objectives of the Pan Camp were to:
- Promote Pan as a medium of social change
- Promote the recognition of the Panyard Culture as an agent of socialization
- Promote the empowerment of our youth through the application of the Panyard Model
- Sensitize the public on the value of steelbands and Panyards in youth development in our society
The Office of the President is deeply grateful to the undermentioned persons for their contributions to the success of the Pan Camp:
Members of the Coordinating Team – Mr. Ainsworth Mohammed, Mr. Michael Dinchong, Mr. Junia Regrello and Mr. Colin Greaves;
Educators and Support Staff- Mr. Clarence Morris, Mrs. Michelle Huggins-Watts. Mr. Amrit Samaroo, Mr. Richard Gill, Mrs. Elizabeth Namsoo-Dinchong, Mr. Emmanuel Joseph, Mr. Neil Simon and Mr. Christian Forde.
Mentors for Mentorship Sessions: Mr Joshua Regrello, Mr Keishaun Julien, The Hon. Justice Gillian Lucky JA, Ms Faith Gillezeau, Dr Machel Montano, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe, Mr Derron Sandy, Mr Ray Holman, Mr Akua Leith and Ms Candice Andrews-
Moderators for the Mentorship sessions: Ancil Isaac “Blaze”, Hans Des Vignes
