GOVERNMENT HEADS OFF DISRUPTION TO PANORAMA

The Festivals Commission has moved to settle outstanding payments to steel pan orchestras, thereby heading off disruptions to this year’s Panorama competition.

The payments were confirmed on the heels of a decision by the Steel pan orchestras to withdraw from this year’s competition.

They issued a press release this morning, saying monies were still owed by the Festivals Commission to The Antigua& Barbuda Pan Association members for last year’s panorama.

The Pan Association said the Festivals Commission was given a deadline of the 11th of June to settle outstanding fees, amounting to a third of the payments.

However, the outstanding payments were confirmed a short while ago, meaning the competition will go ahead.

In 2018, Panorama was under a similar threat of being called off because of monies owed by the Festivals Commission before the parties reached an 11th hour agreement.