De Pan Drama

I promised to be back when I had more news- according to the reports from my insider, there are many things which militated against the Panorama competition this year. Allegedly, funding was cut by 10,000 because it was felt that the event was not generating enough revenue! So the Greater London Authority said they would fund it but this cut was imperative.This information was relayed to the pan association by Chris Boothman who told the panmen that this year no appearance fees were to be paid because the amount equated to the figure budgeted for appearance fees.  The Pan Association pushed back and said utter disrespect- we want all our money, thanks! As Paul Keens say... who tell them do that? GLA removed all the funding! A few weeks later, the PanMen decided to backtrack and said they would accept the reduced figure- the GLA said no.

To provide some context to this whole debate, Mas and other entities (Calypso etc). do not really receive appearance fees. Pan was the only association who received appearance fees- and there had been some issues of lack of proper accounting procedures (as there always ultimately is in these kinds of things).

My take on the whole issue is as follows:

First of all, this underlies the need for effective representation for all aspects of our culture. We need a cadre of professionals fighting and battling our corners. We need negotiators and persons versed in procurement and marketing and sponsorship. To do so, we need to move away from the "Association" mentality, and run our industries like businesses.

Secondly, we cannot continue to have issues with accounting and management of funds. Accountability is the new buzz word and post recession, this will increasingly become a criteria to justify slashing budgets. If there are a few crooked people involved, they absolutely NEED to go.

Thirdly, organisations need to get less lazy about their own survival. Lots of other Carnival organisations obtain Lottery funding or Arts Council funding. Was Pan so complacent that it thought it was entitled to GLA funding? Can some of the monies received be used to hire an administrator who would submit application forms in time to ensure that there is no such disaster.

Apparently its back to Kensal Rise this year. Which might not be a bad thing, given that at last it is out of Hyde Park because we all know that the Notting Hill bougies don't like the fact that for two days their streets become West Indian again. My sources also tell me that they are considering moving Carnival to the Olympic Village. Not over we dead body! This is no Brazil velodrome style carnival- we play street marse!

A group of concerned individuals have started a group called SOCA- Save Our Carnival Associations- with a view to increase dialogue and to provide professional and networking services for our carnival associations. Anyone wishing to join should email the Griot and I would put you in contact.