By JOAN RAMPERSAD Tuesday, January 22 2008

The chaos at the National Panorama preliminaries at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Sunday continued unabated and nightfall found the National Carnival Commission (NCC) unable to provide electricity for the show which had to be temporarily halted.

Well before 6 pm, the first announcement for an NCC official to go to the judges’ booth went unheard. Half an hour later, patrons were told that an electrician had arrived to get lights on at the judges’ table. At that same time the announcer also called for another electrician to go to the ticket booth at the southern entrance of the Northern Greens as light was needed there too and one minute later another call was made for yet another electrician to provide light at the health and emergency area.

The frustration showed on the face of Patrick Arnold, president of Pan Trinbago, as the show was temporarily halted until the lighting issue was sorted out, and this after a late start and other problems. He told Newsday, “It’s unbelievable the amount of stupidness that has taken place today. There were problems with the ticket booths this morning and now, they knew the show was going into the night and yet still they couldn’t make sure that the lights would be working when needed?”

Lights eventually came midway into the medium band category, sometime after 7.30 pm. But by that time St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves who was present, left the Savannah, the delay too much for him.

Melodians, the first band to come on stage in the medium band category at 5.30 pm, had the crowd cheering all through their performance of a Terrence “BJ” Marcelle’s arrangement of De Fosto’s “Latin On De Court.” It was a sign of good things to come.

Receiving lusty applause from the crowd were the Sangre Grande Cordettes that played “Latin On De Court” arranged by Dennis Noel and Shakeer Mitchell, and HCL Valley Harps who played a Michelle Huggins-Watt’s arrangement of “Celebration Time,” composed by Edwin Pouchet and Mark Loquan.

Before the large band category competition that started at 10.24 pm, the crowd in the Northern Greens had already been filing out of the Savannah, including the rhythm section.

But those who stayed heard Witco Desperadoes led off the competition with a Robbie Greenidge arrangement of “Ten Commandments of Pan” composed by Jason Isaac and sung by Tony Prescott. It was sweet melodious music from the band from the hill much to the delight of its supporters who were virtually on the stage.

Calls for supporters to step back from the band also came when Phase II Pan Groove was on stage. The crowd didn’t budge. They wanted to hear the band play “Musical Vengeance” arranged by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. They weren’t disappointed. They got added inspiration when Anslem Douglas joined Boogsie in front of the band.

Silver Stars, playing for the first time in the large band category completely captivated the audience with its execution of Edwin Pouchet’s “Thunder Coming.” Their performance was almost flawless.

Reigning champs Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars played a Leon “Smooth” Edwards’ arrangement of “Thunder Coming.”

Sagicor Exodus came in with a Pelham Goddard arrangement of De Fosto’s “Puncernelly” and bp Renegades also played “Thunder Coming” arranged by Amrit Samaroo with direction from Dr Jit Samaroo.

Exodus was a pretty picture on stage with their canopies raised off, and they didn’t only look good, they also gave a great performance.

They were followed by another excellent performance by the Renegades, no doubt looking for their tenth title this year.

At exactly 2.30 am yesterday the last band Pamberi ended its performance. They were unfortunate in that by the time they started the stands were now almost completely empty but they played Cheo Cato’s “Pressure” arranged by Brian Villafana, with gusto.