Two prominent steel orchestras have issued an ultimatum to the Antigua and Barbuda Pan Association demanding elections be held before the end of April or face potential disruption to the 2025 Panorama competition.
Observer media was furnished with a copy of the missive signed by Keithley Athill Jr and Maurisha Potter — the captains of Hells Gate and Panache Steel Orchestra, respectively, which was addressed to the pan association President Patrick ‘Stone’ Johnson on April 11, citing multiple constitutional violations and governance failures dating back approximately six years.
“The Central Executive has continued to demonstrate a serious lack of interest in upholding the provisions of Rule 4. Elections,” the letter states, referencing the constitutional requirement for biennial elections that has not been observed since May 2019.
The grievance letter also details failure to conduct mandatory financial audits, hold required elections, and complete the association’s registration as a Friendly Society.
On Sunday afternoon, during Observer Radio’s “Sessions in Steel” programme, Athill elaborated on these concerns, highlighting the depleted state of the association’s executive committee.
“It’s supposed to be seven members on that executive committee. They’re down to three,” Athill said. “How can you operate a pan association with just three executive members? That makes absolutely no sense.”
Financial transparency emerged as another point of contention, with the Hell’s Gate captain stating that he has never received proper financial documentation.
“To be honest, and if you notice, I’m talking about a detailed financial report that has never come to my table,” he stated during the radio interview.
The letter reminded the Association of its constitutional obligations under Rule 8, which requires annual auditing of accounts and submission of all books to an appointed auditor by December 31 each year.
This marked an escalation of tensions that surfaced last year when the Association reportedly promised elections in December 2023 that had never materialized.
“We were in the same position last year before Panorama and we asked them to put an election date out to us. They gave us the 15th of December,” Athill recalled. “I remember coming back here to Antigua and was summoned to a meeting … I left that meeting clueless.”
The joint letter from the two bands presents a clear ultimatum: schedule elections before the end of April or they will “approach the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission to commence discussions with the Association’s member bands that are committed to selflessly maintain and preserve the steelband and other cultural artforms, and which are desirous of participating in 2025 National Panorama.”
Joseph Henry, captain of Gemonites Steel Orchestra, acknowledged problems but called for forward movement.
“I am not here to say this is right, this is wrong,” he said. “All I was saying is that we need to get this done right.”
Meanwhile, when contacted for comment, Johnson — the Pan Association president — told Observer media that he intends to respond to the allegations in due course.
