Sweeping changes are in store for next year’s National Panorama steelband competition. Foremost among them will be the ending of preliminary judging in the panyards and a return of all Panorama shows to the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain - this, as new Pan Trinbago president, Keith Diaz and his Central Executive are currently working on the logistics for the change.

A ’New Format for Panorama’ was one of Diaz’s campaign promises in his successful bid for the presidency that brought to an end the 12-year run of Patrick Arnold.

In an interview at the Northern Region of Pan Trinbago’s office on Tuesday evening, Diaz told the Express, ’We are working on the new format feverishly, we already had four meetings and while I don’t want to pre-empt anything, I can tell you, Panorama will be in the savannah.

Diaz continued, ’Panorama is panmen’s biggest show and I don’t see why they should stay in their panyard to be judged. They spend the whole year in the pan yard, panmen need their eight minutes of glory on that big stage.

’Since the inception of the competition in 1963, things have remained the same, resulting in dwindling audiences. New incentives would be made for patrons to return to the big yard.’

With his vice president, secretary and treasurer at his side Diaz went on, ’A better system of revenue collection for Panorama would be introduced.

’The people’s choice award will be reintroduced but not through text messaging but from ticket holders. Entry boxes would be placed at strategic positions but voting will only commence when the last band completes its performance.

’We also have to do something about the judging, a new judging system for scoring would be drafted by a wide section of musicians from a cross section of the country.

’A new cadre of judges would be made available as judges who have been judging for over 20 years would be retired and made trainers for younger members of the panel.

’I want to make the same review for all competitions held under the auspices of Pan Trinbago.’

Diaz said he also wants to look at royalties collection for pan-men. ’We have not given this area too much attention over the years. Radio stations play our music from dusk to dawn and not much is heard of who gets royalties from the music.’

’We have to look into this loss of revenue as soon as possible,’ Diaz ended.