THE EDITOR: August 8 has been declared World Steelband Day. This is an honour to our country and to our special instrument, the steelpan.

I know little about the early beginnings of pan because I was born and grew up on an oilfield camp in the deep south. However, we all know, or should know, of pan's violent beginnings, coming out of World War II. The names alone indicate the gangland, war-related beginnings: Invaders, Desperadoes, Renegades, Tokyo and Casablanca.

But as the pan evolved, communities developed the music and steel orchestras became an important part of communities.

So, all praise to pan, to its development and advancement.

While it is positive that pan has attracted community development and corporate sponsorship, I would like to see the steelbands and the sponsors drop the sponsor's name every time a band is identified.

For instance, world famous football teams are called by their names, minus the sponsor. I think that our steel orchestras are more important, more recognisable, by their valid names than using a corporate name to identify them.

What do you think?

PETER O'CONNOR

Cascade

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