IN a night of many ties, including an unprecedented four-way draw, two bands, one from Tobago and the other from San Fernando, were declared joint winners of the National Panorama 2025 Small Conventional Small Bands finals, held on January 25.
Players from Tobago T&TEC New East Side Dimension and San Fernando-based Golden Hands, which secured 279 points each to take the title, stormed the stage at Skinner Park, San Fernando, when the results were announced in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
They jumped, danced and posed with the coveted trophies presented by Pan Trinbago president Beverely Ramsey-Moore, Culture and Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell and National Carnival Commission CEO Keiba Jacob Mottley.
It was two in a row for the Belle Garden, Tobago, band, which played a Kersh Ramsey arrangement of Kitchener’s 1973 Rain-o-Rama.
For Golden Hands, from Independence Avenue, it was the first time in seven years the band returned to winners row. In 2018, Golden Hands won with the 1983 hit, Mih Lover, sung by Lord Nelson.
The 94-year-old veteran graced the Skinner Park stage at the finals.
Golden Hands arranger Vanessa Headley-Brewster, was emotional as she dedicated the win to her late mother and founder of the band, Franka Headley, who died in August 2024.
“This one is for you mom,” she said, overcome with emotions.
“I am ecstatic, I am so emotional. I’m just happy to do it for mummy. The legacy is strong and it would never die. I just wanted to represent her hard work. Everybody came together and did what she has been teaching hundreds and hundreds of students all over the world, pure pan excellence.
“We set the gold standard and we did not compromise. This is a testament of her work and life and all she poured into our culture, the steelpan art form.”
[caption id="attachment_1135156" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A baby doll perform with Southern Stars Steel Orchestra during their rendition of Mih Lover arranged by Duvone Stewart.[/caption]
Headley-Brewster said her mother had a vision which she wrote about. This was to see the pan engraved and embedded on the coat of arms long before it was announced by the Prime Minister.
“That is prophetic. So many things are happening for the national instrument and the artform and we need to focus on the positive because pan is transformative. It is ready for the world and the world needs it.”
While being the ultimate winner is always sweeter, East Side arranger Kersh Ramsey said he was happy to share the title with Golden Hands.
“I am really happy for them.”
He said Headley-Brewster taught him while he was a student at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and they developed a close relationship.
“We would have gone to Golden Hands and played with them for Panorama so I would have known her mom who passed. They came out victorious with this title for her. I, too, dedicate this one also to the late Franka Headley. It is one title I don’t mind sharing with Golden Hands. It’s one love.”
But, he warned, “look out for us in 2026. I am c
