By Nalini Sudama
FORMER Prime Minister Stuart Young has accused the United National Congress (UNC) government of an “assault on our culture” after Heritage Petroleum Company Limited announced to terminate its sponsorship of Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra and Siparia Deltones.
His comments come after Heritage’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kerry Rampersad issued a letter to Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra on Thursday informing the band that their sponsorship will end on December 23.
“Your contributions have made a meaningful difference and we are grateful for that,” the letter said. “As we move forward, we kindly ask that you discontinue the use of the company’s name and logo in any future branding.”
Speaking with AZP News on Friday, founder of Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra Junia Regrello said that the band only learnt about the termination Thursday morning after they received the letter from Heritage with no prior “heads-up.”
He said, “Panorama first starts in six weeks. If you knew that your board would have been appointed sometime in July and you had a new policy going forward. Give us a heads-up so we can prepare ourselves.”
He noted that the band received $600,000 from Heritage each year which primarily covered competing in Panorama inclusive of transportation and other expenses.
According to Regrello, Heritage had minimal involvement with the band outside of Panorama.
He sad that the band’s initiatives extend beyond music, offering support to youths with mentorship, a safe space and community engagement.
He said, “There are schools in the band. We have two schools that one of them is the national champion, San Fernando Boy’s RC and Naparima combined, who have been first and second for the past three, four years in competition. And they are part of our systems.”
Regrello said that although they respect Heritage’s new policies and their previous contributions, Skiffle Bunch would have appreciated the opportunity to present their case to continue the sponsorship.
After sponsoring the band for approximately three years, Heritage’s contract with Skiffle Bunch will expire on December 27.
On his Facebook page on Thursday Young said that this decision follows National Gas Company (NGC)’s discontinued assistance to three bands which included Couva Joylanders, La Brea Nightmares and Steel X Poison of Tobago earlier this year.
Young said, “These are calculated decisions that hurt our National instrument, the PAN and the pan movement.”
“The question is why? Why this unjustified attack?”
