Latest update September 11th, 2026 10:26 AM
Dr. Frank Anthony to face steel pan music in Parliament
The operation of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport is once again under scrutiny, this time for hiring a foreign steel pan tuner and for not inviting prominent local tuners to a training workshop purportedly held during Mashramani 2014 celebrations.
On Thursday, Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, is expected to supply the National Assembly with an oral response on these issues that are bothering local pan tuners.
This is not the first time that the Minister would be answering questions on this matter. The Minister’s initial responses have prompted additional questions.
A Partnership for National Unity’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Jones, yesterday, said he is anxiously awaiting Dr. Anthony’s response since pan tuners have dismissed earlier claims Dr. Anthony made in Parliament.
Jones said that pan tuners had approached him about the Ministry’s behaviour during this year’s Mashramani celebrations.
He related the tuners’ primary concern was that the Ministry retained the services of a Trinidadian pan tuner during the Panorama competition. Dr. Anthony had told the House that local tuners were unavailable because of the busy season and this forced the Ministry to hire a foreigner.
But, according to Jones local pan tuners who had enlightened him about the situation said, they were never approached to take up the task. Jones said this revelation is startling and he questioned why the Ministry would want to hire a foreigner.
In addition, the Ministry raked up a bill of just under $500,000 to retain the Trinidadian’s service.
Another claim of the Minister that local tuners have denied is the hosting of a training workshop. Jones said prominent local tuners have denied being part of a training workshop facilitated by the said Trinidadian tuner whilst he was in Guyana.
Jones said that these conflicting reports by the Minister and local tuners have caused him to pose new questions to the Minister. He said that the Minister would have to reveal where, when and how many local tuners participated in the workshop.
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