Michael 'Scobie' Joseph of Southern Marines Steelband Foundation Speaks
Staff Article
Interview Recorded: February 12, 2006
We are at the Queens Park Savannah where the Panorama Semi-finals is taking place. Many of the bands are already here and anxiously awaiting their turn to perform on stage. We are interviewing some of the movers and shakers within these bands. We have with us Mr. Michael 'Scobie' Joseph, the president of Southern Marines Foundation.
TRINBAGOPAN: Mr. Joseph, what is your tune of choice this year?
MICHAEL: A festival song by Ella Andall, arranged by Malomo Joseph.
TRINBAGOPAN: I understand the band is sixty years old. Can you give us a little history about the band?
MICHAEL: Southern Marines is one of the oldest bands in Trinidad. The band has been in existence since from 1946 to 2006…before I was born (laughter). We are celebrating sixty years this year.
TRINBAGOPAN: Do you have any advice for the Pan People out there?
MICHAEL: We do not want to give any advice to the Pan People out there. The Pan People out there are committed. That is why we are here today and all these people are here today. We want to give advice to the corporate citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to respect and understand the contribution we are making. For instance, we have a band with a hundred people and we are given twenty-five t-shirts with the company's name in the back and to hell with how we get money to print the front. Yet we are advertising for you. Those are the insensitivities of the corporate world. Do you see what is going on here this morning? We are getting ready to start but the people are not ready as yet. They are always putting Pan People under pressure. From the birth of Pan til now, Pan is still in the same position now as it was from since in 1946. The society doesn't love Steelpan. We know that. We are aware of that because we feel it.
There are corporate citizens who haven't made any contributions as yet for The Panorama. I do not know what they are waiting on, they must be bussing style. Perhaps it is some egotistical clown who must be coasting some demon and bussing (making) style. He doesn't know he is that. He is just passing through. He is trying to block the system and spite bands and all kinds of stupidness. We alone understand what it is going on. We are making a serious contribution to this thing. We are keeping the crime rate down by having a lot of youths in The Panyard. If we let it fall, half of them will go outside there and do things. Nobody appreciates what we are doing and it is a pressure. I haven't slept from since last night trying to reach here to be on time so that we would be prepared to perform first. Look at the stage, they are not ready as yet. They are never ready. We are always under pressure. We are appealing to the government and to the corporate Trinidad and Tobago, to understand the contribution Steelbands are making to this country, and to be more supportive.
TRINBAGOPAN: Do you have any advice to Pan Trinibago?
MICHAEL: Pan Trinbago is under pressure. Pan Trinibago is we and we are Pan Trinbago. What advice we could give ourselves? We are always ready. We need assistance from corporate Trinidad and Tobago. Pan Trinbago cannot do anything on their own. They are defending just like all the other units are defending. If the government doesn't release funds, if they do not get corporate sponsors, Pan Trinbago cannot do anything. We are Pan Trinbago, so I do not have a problem in that area.
TRINBAGOPAN: Do you have any final words?
MICHAEL: Well, we are here this morning and we are playing first. We hope at the end of the day we will still have that position.
TRINBAGOPAN: Thank you sir.
Southern Marines Steelband Foundation in Pictures
Panorama 2006 Interviews | Trinbago Pan Homepage
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