00:00Well the anticipation is definitely building. So far we have seen at least nine steel bands
00:06who have gathered here at the Queen's Park Savannah. Some of them are practicing.
00:11Now this comes as the National Panorama Semi-Final competition is set to take off right here tomorrow
00:17where 15,000 people are expected to be in attendance.
00:22At the grandstand, the note stand and the bar area, people are busy at work putting up banners,
00:33arranging the seating and a lot more. The stage is aptly branded Savannah Party.
00:39Panorama 2025 hosted by Pantrén Béga will carry with it an additional significance
00:45with the steel band officially being the national instrument of the country.
00:50On Friday, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell toured the venue
00:54to witness its readiness for the semi-final event. He said, quote,
00:59Carnival season is energized. It's exciting and we look forward to it every year.
01:04Everything is moving again, the music, the energies on a high, the mass, the parade
01:09and of course the National Panorama Semi-Finals.
01:13The semi-finals is like the greatest show on earth within the greatest show on earth.
01:18It is one of the largest events that we have here in Trinidad and Tobago, end quote.
01:29Mitchell said among the work that has been undertaken at the Savannah by the National Carnival Commission
01:34is the refurbishment of the grandstand and the VIP room.
01:38Tickets for the note stand have completely sold out.
01:42However, up to news time, grandstand tickets were still available at the ticket booth at the Savannah and online.
01:49Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
