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Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore is yet to meet with culture minister Michelle Benjamin but hopes that that would happen by the end of the month.
When that meeting eventually happens, all ongoing projects and the way forward will be discussed, Ramsey-Moore said in a phone interview with Newsday on May 7.
Among the major issues to be the discussed in the proposed $120 million Pan Trinbago headquarters on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.
Last year, the former People’s National Movement (PNM)-led administration proposed a six-storey, mixed-use building, with Pan Trinbago office space, space for the ministry, the National Carnival Commission, a theatre/auditorium with seating for 300, a pan museum and interpretive centre, conference and meeting rooms, rooftop entertainment area, gift shop, cafeteria and parking facilities.
Whether or not that goes forward depends on the government policy.
In 1974, the late prime minister Dr Eric Williams gifted the organisation a two-acre parcel of land in Chaguaramas.
The Basdeo Panday-led administration in 2001 gave the organisation an eight-acre parcel of land in Trincity. In 2011, energy minister and former housing and environment minister Dr Roodal Moonilal promised to have the headquarters completed at a cost of $13 million.
That was not done and some people described the partially completed Trincity building as an “eyesore.”
In April last year, then Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced that the Trincity land had been identified for a cricket academy with investment from Indian multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd.
It was later announced that Pan Trinbago’s new headquarters would be housed at the old General Post Office, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain.
Ramsey-Moore repeated her willingness to work with the new minister and government. .
Asked if she believed plans to construct the organisation's headquarters would be stopped, Ramsey-Moore said she believed in the United National Congress’ (UNC) campaign theme: when UNC wins, everybody wins.
“That message struck at the very core of the TT population and, I think, that is why the TT community is very comfortable and there has been no backlash, no quarrel.
“Everyone is just eager to win,” she said.
Ramsey-Moore added she was sure Benjamin was “willing and able” to hold hands and move pan and its community to new heights.
“I hope to meet with her before month-end,” she said.
Benjamin would also have to meet with all Carnival special interest groups, Ramsey-Moore said.
“We are the makers of the Carnival and, in Pan Trinbago’s position, we are not just about Carnival.
"We have been saying all along that pan is a community soul. We impact the entire Trinidad and Tobago.”
That was why she was happy community development was once again a part of the ministry’s name, she said.
“It is important for us to have the conversation. Let me see where the government is going.
“Yes, we have our plans and programmes, but it is a partnership. I prefer to have the conversation with the line minister and know where she is prepared to go and then she will know where we are and we will then hold hands and walk together.”
Promoter Randy Glasgow also shared some thoughts on this, saying the government should squash the deal with Reliance Industries Ltd and give the Trincity land back to Pan Trinbago.
Glasgow also said he hopes the government and Benjamin would get rid of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) and privatise Carnival.
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