Steelpan Steering Committee
The Roadmap for Trinidad and Tobago: Transforming to a New Economy and New Society, states that: “the Steelpan Manufacturing industry has already demonstrated its potential for earning foreign exchange and creating meaningful employment with significant annualized sales to regional and external markets.” It is against this background, that a National Governance Framework was recommended to be developed.
Cabinet, in June, 2023 agreed to the establishment of a Steering Committee for the period of two (2) years, with the key objective of providing strategic guidance for the development of the National Governance Framework for the Steelpan Industry.
The Steering Committee comprises the following members:
- Mark Loquan (Chairman);
- Professor Emeritus Clément Imbert (Vice Chairman);
- Mia Gormandy-Benjamin;
- Michelle Huggins-Watts;
- Martin Raymond;
- Beverly Ramsey- Moore; and
- Denise Hernandez
Within the ecosystem of the Steelpan industry, the Steering Committee categorized the main areas of focus into nine (9) Buckets, which include Manufacturing, Archiving, Education, Recording, Marketing, Entertainment, Funding, Standards and Research & Development.
As at December 8, 2023, the Steering Committee met with thirteen (13) stakeholders to determine the major gaps within the Steelpan Industry. The stakeholders include:
Team Lead: Professor Emeritus Clément Imbert
Stakeholders:
- Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago Company Limited (MITTCO) – Mr. Akua Leith;
- Panland Trinidad and Tobago – Mr. Michael Cooper;
- Definite Pitch Steelpans – Mr. Ancliff (Ansel) Joseph;
- Steelpan International – Mr. Adrian Jaikaran;
- Chrome Furnishers – Mrs. Nadara Mohammed and family;
- Steelpan Tuners Guild – Mr. Anthony Duncan; and
- Codrington Family Institute – Mr. Kaijah Codrington
Team Lead: Dr. Mia Gormandy-Benjamin / Mrs. Michelle Huggins-Watts
Stakeholders:
- Pan in Schools Coordinating Council (PSCC) – Ms. Stacy Alcantara, Mr. Kurt Sargeant and Mr. Ronaldo Rollocks
- Northern Illinois University (NIU) – Professor Liam Teague
- Fakoory & Company: The Evolution of Trinidad and Tobago’s Steelpan through 17 Works of Arts
Team Lead: Mr. Martin Raymond
Stakeholders: Frank Agarrat
Team Lead: Mr. Mark Loquan / Ms. Denise L.J. Hernandez
Stakeholders:
- Ray Funk
- Dingole: Virtual Pan Museum – Mr. Shawn De Frietas & Ms. Diedre Cristal Lee Kin with National Museum Committee – Mr. Kenwin Crichlow
