Government Distributes Grants to Unsponsored Steelbands ,and Cultural Organisations, and Remittances to Pan Players Participating in Panorama 2023 to Pan Trinbago

Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Senator the Honourable Randall Mitchell along with President of Pan Trinbago, Beverly Ramsey-Moore distributed grant funding for 153 unsponsored Steelbands, 8 cultural organisations, and remittances to Steelpan players participating in Panorama for Carnival 2023 during a small ceremony at the VIP Lounge, Queen’s Park Savannah on February 16, 2023. Unsponsored Steelbands For Carnival 2023, Cabinet has approved grants payable in the sum of $15,000.00 per band for unsponsored Conventional Bands and $7,500 per band in support of unsponsored Single Pan Bands. These grants were made available to a total of 94 Conventional bands and 59 Single Pan Bands – in the amount of $1,852,500.00. Steelpan Player Remittances

Cabinet has also approved remittances to be paid to each Steelpan player participating in the Panorama 2023 competition in the amount of $500 per player. To this end $3,200,000 has been paid to the NCC to execute the payments per player in accordance with the criteria set by Cabinet. That is, Steelpan players must: be a citizens of Trinidad and Tobago; be a holder of a national identification card or passport; be a registered player with an eligible Steelband; and perform with a band up to the preliminary round of Panorama 2023. Grants to Cultural Organisations Cabinet also approved grant payments in the amount of $1,565,000 for 8 cultural organisations for Carnival 2023 for the hosting of several Calypso tents and, Calypso and Chutney competitions, and the Red Cross Kiddies Carnival. They are: Icons Calypso Tent; Kalypso Revue; Maccometre; Divas Calypso Cabaret; Spektakular Promotions; Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society; National Chutney Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago; and the National Action Cultural Committee. Minister Mitchell said, “These initiatives represent Government’s continued invest and support for our rich and vibrant culture. The grants to the cultural organisations represent Government’s commitment to maintaining our valuable cultural heritage assets which include Calypso tents, Chutney, and Children’s Carnival. Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, will also continue to support the Steelpan movement acknowledging Steelpan’s significance to our culture, and also recognizing the importance that Steelbands play in this country’s community development, community pride, and social cohesion.” The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts will continue to contribute to the development and sustainability of artistic and cultural excellence and to provide support to our cultural practitioners who help to maintain our cultural identity as Trinbagonians.