World Steelpan Day was celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago with the official opening of a new pan manufacturing facility.
The Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago Company Limited (MITTCO) opened its doors in the e-Teck Industrial Park in Diamond Vale, Diego Martin on Thursday evening.
MITTCO is the brainchild of Akua Leith, the Artistic Director and Conductor of the National Steel Symphony Orchestra of T&T.
Leith, a Fulbright Fellow who graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Masters of Music in Conducting with an emphasis on Steelpan Performance, said the factory was the first pillar of his eight pillar-plan to promote the steelpan.
Leith said his plan includes a museum, a store selling pan-related merchandise, a Hall of Fame, and Concert Hall.
He said he had the idea for MITTCO in 2018 and shared it with legendary pan arranger Len “Boogsie” Sharpe who told him to approach the Hadad brothers for support.
Owners of Hadco, the Hadad brothers have been long-time supporters of pan, particularly Sharpe’s band Phase II and saw and supported the vision.
Akua Leith showing off one of the pans in the new MITTCO facility
MITTCO began operations in October 2021 and the first pan produced there was sold to EU Ambassador, Peter Cavendish.
Leith stressed that promoting Trinidad and Tobago as the home of steelpan, where the instrument was invented, is crucial and as such, they have been seeking out strategic partnerships.
One such partnership is with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for which MITTCO will provide live and recorded music for all games.
In her address, Minister of Trade Paula Gopee-Scoon said her Government was working to help expand the production of pans in T&T through the Steelpan Manufacturing Grant Fund Facility launched in 2020.
She said the grant provides financial support for the acquisition of machinery, equipment, software, tools, raw materials and training to build capacity and expand the industry.
Funding is available for up to one million dollars for eligible companies for the purchase of approved items.
“As of July 2022, nine steelpan manufacturers have benefitted from funding under the Grant to the extent of approximately TT$2.32 million. The funding received was used to restructure businesses and increase production capacity to serve regional and international markets including Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan, China, Germany and Australia,” she said.
“According to data from the Central Statistical Office since the introduction of the Steelpan Manufacturing Grant Facility in 2020, there was a notable increase in steelpan exports to an estimated TT$2.19 million in 2021-the highest exported value of the product for the six preceding years”
The Minister said that is not enough to unlock the full potential of the industry and, as such, several things are being done including a proposal for the expansion of grant funding to include support for manufacturers of steelpan accessories, including stands, cases and sticks.
“Further, a governance structure is now contemplated to ensure that the development of the steelpan industry has clear strategic direction with a focus on innovation and sustainability. With the imperatives for success rooted in quality, standards, scale and competitiveness, it is envisaged that our manufactured steelpan instruments will exceed that of our international competitors,” Gopee-Scoon said.
A number of dignitaries attended the facility’s opening, including Speaker of the House, Bridgid Anisette-George, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello, and Pan Trinbago’s President Beverly Ramsey-Moore.
