Ramsey-Moore unveils $100M plan for new

Reporter

matthew.chin@guardian.co.tt

Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore yesterday unveiled a $100 million project for a new headquarters for the steelpan in Port-of-Spain.

She made the announcement hours after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, during the National Steelband Music Festival on Sunday, revealed that Government had agreed to give Pan Trinbago the old postal service headquarters at Wrightson Road, in exchange for the piece of land it had started a building on over a decade ago.

Addressing the new plan during its annual Thanksgiving Service at PanTrinbago’s current headquarters on Dundonald Street, Port-of-Spain, Ramsey-Moore said the design for the structure has already been approved and will be built by UdeCOTT.

Noting it will be built between the Hyatt Regency hotel and the T&T Fire Service headquarters, she said, “Pan Trinbago had to negotiate hard. Over 20 years suffering in the wilderness down the road. Our business on the Waterfront is to ensure that we have additional revenue streams…It will be right there, as you know, it’s the centre place for business, the cruise ships come in, the entertainment space, and all of that. I think it will be another glorious day for pan. We want to say to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, we appreciate all that you have done.”

Ramsey-Moore said it will be a six-storey structure and take the shape of a steelpan, where a museum, performance hall and rooftop dining will be features. Several businesses will also be sharing the space and offices will be rented out to Government, in an effort to make the headquarters into a revenue generator.

Pan Trinbago will be the major owner of the new building.

Ramsey-Moore also said currently, the organisation has clean audits under their administration and the Government and corporate T&T are starting to believe in Pan Trinbago more and more.

Ramsey-Moore said next week, during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister, the completion date will be rolled out.

Seemingly addressing the recent debate over whether the tassa was also worthy of being put on the Coat of Arms alongside the pan, she said, “I am not getting into any toss up with any tassa, because all I have to prove my point is to bring the tassa on stage to play the national instrument and to bring a steelpan: who will play the national anthem? The tassa or steelpan? And then we will have a shootout between a tassa group and Desperadoes,” Ramsey-Moore said.

During the thanksgiving service, several steel orchestra bands were blessed, including Pangelics Steel Orchestra, Laventille Serenaders Steel Orchestra, and Nostrand Symphony.

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