Trinidad and Tobago’s sprinter Jereem Richards’ preference to have the steelpan version of the National Anthem play at the Commonwealth Games reiterates the point that the steelpan should be proclaimed as the country’s musical instrument.
That is the view put forward by Pan Trinbago’s President Beverley Ramsey-Moore, while speaking to TTT News via telephone interview on World Steelpan Day.
She said while it is a common thought that is also written in our school books stating the steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, the notion is not actually law.
The Pan Trinbago President says despite former Prime Minister Patrick Manning declaring the steelpan as the country’s national instrument in an Independence Day message to the nation in 1992, she notes that gesture is not good enough.
Ms. Ramsey-Moore says it will be better for the country if laws are passed to proclaim the steelpan as the national instrument.
President Beverley Ramsey-Moore admits that Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Randall Mitchell has expressed interest in the idea, and says that she thinks the conversation may begin very soon.