Phase II vs City Hall
Posted: Thursday, May 12, 2005

Land impasse deepens

By Terry Joseph

A stand-off between the Port of Spain City Corporation and Petrotrin Phase II Steel Orchestra, involving the band's reluctance to move from its panyard to facilitate a housing development, has now become absolutely polarised.

Since its formation in 1972, Phase II Pan Groove has occupied a parcel of land on Hamilton Street, Woodbrook, property owned by the City Corporation which, by arrangement with Home Construction Limited (HCL), is erecting a self-contained housing development (#1 Woodbrook Place).

The project, which comprises a number of high-rise buildings, requires the entire block, excluding only the historical Roxy Theatre at its north-eastern quadrant; albeit now a Pizza Hut restaurant. Work on construction of the highly-anticipated "village" is well underway.

Some nine years ago, the Corporation duly gave Phase II Pan Groove notice of eviction, offering alternative property at Mucurapo with upgrade of facilities-all at no cost to the steelband-which initially agreed to move, even as the similarly circumstanced Starlift Steel Orchestra swore to stand its ground.

Last year, the tables turned. Phase II refused to budge, while Starlift moved without undue hassle to the new site at which both bands were due to be housed. On September 13 last, City Mayor Murchison Brown, HCL Group CEO Michael Fifi and Local Government Minister Rennie Dumas toured the $1.6 million structure built by HCL.

As was the case with Starlift, the authorities intended to hand it over the structure to Phase 11 Pan Groove soon thereafter but the band demanded-as a prerequisite to occupying the facility-that a number of outstanding issues be resolved.

Among concerns cited was proximity of the property to the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen, with shared access to both locations. Phase II demanded construction of a footbridge to the adjacent Foreshore Freeway as an alternative route to and from its panyard. In addition, the band wanted dedicated vehicle-parking space and protested adjacency of the Corporation's cleansing bunker to its panyard.

Phase II manager, Errol Skerritt argues that daily washing of the Corporation's garbage fleet would likely leave undesirable residuals, including foul scents and flies which, he said, comprised a major health concern, especially as steelband shows historically attract many vendors, whose foodstuff would be at risk of contamination.

But the Corporation said it has satisfied all of the several variations from originally agreed specifications as demanded by Phase II. CEO Lorraine Alexander also told the Daily Express that during the September 2004 tour, the two-storey facility, which features washrooms on both levels, dressing rooms for visiting artistes, six teaching rooms for pan students and a caretaker's apartment; was unambiguously endorsed by the band's sponsors-State agency Petrotrin.

Mayor Brown said the new pan facility was faithful to the band's architectural specifications and stressed that Phase II would not incur any fees to use it. He cautioned that time was running out for a decision either way, as it was important to maintain construction schedules. In the mid-1990s, faced with similar reluctance to move by another steelband, Woodbrook Modernaires, the Corporation hauled their pans away to a warehouse in Chaguaramas.

Alexander said the City was not in favour of making a car park exclusive to Phase II. "They wanted to ape the Panorama environment and practice in that ambience," she said, adding that paving the area cost over $200,000 and an additional $150,000 to create the footbridge across the gorge from the Freeway to the panyard, then they also wanted the yard paved.

"We made a number of other changes to the building as indicated by Phase II. If we are unable to deliver the property for construction of #1 Woodbrook place, in addition to all the other difficulties incurred, we run the risk of being sued by HCL. The issue must therefore be resolved soon," she said.

But Skerritt observes that Phase II's staying at Hamilton Street does not seem to affect the HCL project. "We are really on the periphery, so they have not touched our space up to this time," he said. "Our preferred option is to remain at the existing location and I suppose something could be worked out if physically we're not interfering with the development. I feel that is where room for compromise lies.

"Of course, you have the social connotation of whether a steelband would be appropriate in an upscale development. However, I feel Trinidad should do its best to preserve the steelband in its natural habitat, as coming out of the community.

"In developed countries, particularly in a scenario where this instrument is indigenous, if you wish to relocate cultural organisations and invite consumers into that space, the ambience must be friendly to all parties concerned. We find it strange that someone would decide to set up a cultural environment and then stick in a sanitation division.

"We have not noted any moves towards satisfying our concerns at the new location, so there appears to be a stand-off in that regard but if they cannot accommodate our requests, we're talking stalemate," Skerritt said. While conceding Phase II had no problem with the structure, he said the yard was not big enough to accommodate the band at Panorama time.

With both parties virtually accusing each other of a breach of faith and neither willing to budge, the issue will soon come to a head, as Skerritt this week vowed that until the band's requirements are fully satisfied, Phase II Pan Groove will remain at Hamilton Street; a position unacceptable to the City.

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