The Antigua & Barbuda Pan Association (ABPA) wishes to clarify its position as it relates to Antigua’s Carnival & the National Panorama 2024.
Dating back to negotiations with the Antigua & Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) for carnival 2023, the ABPA had requested $400,000XCD.
This was the first panorama after Covid and many bands were in a bad situation regarding band headquarters, instruments, members & finances.
ABFC had indicated an unwillingness to provide the requested funds. Their counter-proposal was to provide $300,000XCD instead.
There was an outstanding balance of just over $100,000XCD due to ABPA from carnival 2022. The ABFC suggested that they could clear the arrears and give $300,000XCD to total our requested sum of $400,000XCD.
ABPA accepted this proposal for the sake of having a panorama and for the general development of the art form
At negotiations for 2024, The ABPA requested $400,000XCD and presented justification for the figure, by highlighting the expensive nature of preparing a band for panorama.
The ABFC indicated that they were unable to meet our demands and were only in a position to provide $300,000XCD. ABFC further went on to propose that they provide ABPA with 3500 panorama tickets to be sold and the monies collected would make up the extra $100,000XCD ($105,000XCD to be exact) and kept by the ABPA.
It was disclosed that panorama gate receipts for 2024 only amounted to $30,000XCD (approximately 1,000 paying patrons). This proposal was subsequently rejected by the ABPA.
It is important to note that the subvention to bands includes not only prize monies but funds to all participating bands towards the development of their respective bands and by extension the steelpan artform in Antigua.
The extremely high cost to prepare a band for panorama is also noteworthy. The major expenses include the arrangers/drillers fees, tuning of the instruments, purchasing of new instruments, uniforms, transportation, refreshments, as well as repairs to instruments, racks & trolleys. Consideration has to be given to the fact that a number of the bands remain unsponsored.
Each year, every band experiences higher expenditure than monies received from ABFC. Hence, it’s appreciated that the Cabinet of Antigua & Barbuda increased the funds by 10%
The ABPA has always endeavoured to maintain amicable and respectful negotiations with the ABFC.
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Pan is just a load of noise.
When you speak of major expenses and you did highlighted quite a few, so what part does the sponsors play in all this?
Sometimes when u don’t know anything you should shut up😍. Pan is an art!
HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT EVERY YEAR ON THE ONE NATION CONCERT? BY THE WAY THIS POLITICAL AFFAIR OF A CONCERT ” ONE NATION WHATEVER” IS YOU KNOW WHO…WET DREAM….JUST GIVE ME A BREAK AND PAY THE ABPA.
In other words, the Pan Association is indicating that it is the government’s responsibility to cover their expenses, if they are to participate in Panorama. What happened to seeking sponsorship and donations? Furthermore, there was a time when steelbands used to host block-o-rama and shows in order to raise funds. Harmonites used to have some nice block-o-rama right in the vicinity if the pan yard, and I can remember several other bands doing the same. They would have performers, sell food and drinks, and just generally have fun while raising money. What has happened to that kind of initiative from the steelbands?
That is why I continue to say that the Pan Association’s demand for $400K is both unreasonable and unconscionable. No other show for the carnival demands that much from the Festival’s Commission. In addition, their refusal to assist in the selling of tickets shows that the Association is selfish. Clearly, they are in it for the money and not for the development of the art form. There was a time when Panorama could hardly attract 500 patrons. There is now a boom where that show is one of the better attended shows, and if the Pan Association is not careful we will end up right back there.
Truth now a come out. Only big man can mek money, not the likka man.
All dem free concert cost how much tax dollars but they don’t want to pay the Pan Association the necessary amount. In case you idiots out there don’t know, dem concerts cost a lot more than $400,000. That’s why they don’t want to pay out.
Hope the Pan Association hold their ground.
Total bullshit what going on.