Islandevents.com

A protest by panmen was avoided when Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold announced that the Ministry of Culture would increase the prize money for Panorama 2005. The prize money would increase to $12 million from $6.5 million.

Arnold said in addition to the $12 million assured by the minister, some $3 million would be given for outstanding items. This brings the amount to the $15 million as was planned. The Government also plans to purchase a chroming plant to alleviate the hefty costs incurred by bands.

"Chroming a pan outside costs more. As they (chroming factories) go by the inches, the smallest pan would cost $800 to chrome. For a larger pan, they would charge $3,000 and more," he said.

The work on the Pan Trinbago headquarters is expected to resume early in the new year.