Farley Vows New Era for Pan Men
With the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election looming on Monday, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has placed culture at the forefront of the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) campaign, pledging permanent homes and upgraded facilities for the island’s top steelbands. Speaking to a charged crowd, Augustine announced that lands have already been officially allocated to the Metro Stars, led by Steve Jack, securing a future for what he termed « one of the best single pan sides in the country ».
Augustine declared that the days of steelbands operating without proper infrastructure are over. He insisted that the next phase of development must be to provide Metro Stars with a « pan tent worthy of their fame, » moving beyond land allocation to actual construction. This move, he argued, is a critical social intervention strategy. By giving young people a dedicated space to practice—often late into the night—the administration aims to keep them productively engaged and « off the streets, » thereby reducing the risk of them getting into trouble.
The campaign trail also led Augustine to address the needs of East Side Dimension in Belle Garden. He acknowledged the band’s status as a premier « small band » side and committed to immediate remedial works at their facility. Augustine highlighted the band’s deep integration with the community, noting that it serves students from nearby schools and the Roxborough Police Youth Club.
In a passionate defense of the art form, the Chief Secretary called for a change in mindset, rejecting the old stigma of pan as « old noise » or behavior associated with « badjohns ». He reminded the electorate that the steelpan is the national instrument, now celebrated even in churches, and urged voters to support the administration that is investing in the youths who carry this culture forward.
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