Caripan Launches First Ever Caribbean Panorama Competition

October 6th, 2001: Ten of the best Caribbean Steel Orchestras, representing seven countries will face the adjudicators when the historic first ever Caribbean Panorama Championships get underway in Grenada later this year. The competition, scheduled for Saturday 1st December at the National Stadium will see a number of big names in Caribbean steelpan music.

Heading the list of Steel Orchestras are Trinidad & Tobago's WITCO Desperadoes, who will be the favourite of many to run away with the inaugural title, and Exodus Steel Orchestra. Host country Grenada will rest their hopes on three of the island's top bands, Grenlec Rainbow City All Stars, NCB Angel Harps and GBC New Dimension. Other strong representations are expected to come from Antigua's ACB Harmonites, St. Vincent & the Grenadines' Starlift, winner of a record 15 Vincentian panorama championships, North American Steel Orchestra from Guyana, St. Lucia's Piton Diamond Steel Orchestra and Barbados United Steel Orchestra (BUSO).

The bands will compete in two competitions, a Bomb Competition and the Panorama Competition. The Bomb Competition is for a trophy and a US$1000 first prize and bands are to play any tune of choice in a calypso tempo. The Panorama Competition, from which the Champion Caribbean Steelband will emerge, is for a first prize of US$20,000, a second prize of US$15,000 and a third prize of US$10,000. The winner will also receive a Trophy.

The event will open on Sunday 25th November with the launching of Pan Village at Tanteen playing field. All participating bands will be based in the Pan Village where practice sessions are expected to draw large number of pan enthusiasts every day. On Thursday 29th November, Caripan will have a Charity Jam at Pan Village. Entrance fee is a Can of Foodstuff or EC$5. Proceeds will be donated to charity.

October 6th, 2001.
The draw for the order of appearance of the Steelbands at the first Caribbean Panorama Championships was one of the highlights of todays Media Launch event.

As if to emphasise the historic relevance of the first Caribbean Panorama, the first band making the draw, ACB Harmonites of Antigua pulled number one out of the basket. Barbados, drawing second pulled number 4, while the three Steelbands from Grenada, Grenlec Rainbow City All Stars, NCB Angel Harps & GBC New Dimension pulled 2, 3 and 5 respectively. Next was Guyana, who promptly fell in order by pulling number 6. St. Lucia then pulled number 8 out of the basket and when St. Vincent's turn came to pull their position they put things back in order by pulling number 7.

This left WITCO Desperadoes and Exodus of Trinidad & Tobago, the simple task of choosing who would bring down the curtains on the newest chapter of Caribbean Steelpan history. The Captain of Despers put the matter to rest when he stepped up and pulled number 10 leaving Exodus to appear at number 9.

Media Release
Caripan Secretariat, St. George's