Trinidad and Tobago has achieved a significant milestone in securing the steelpan as a symbol of its national identity by attaining a geographical indicator (GI) for the manufacturing of steelpans. This new designation officially recognizes the steelpan as a product unique to Trinidad and Tobago, giving the country exclusive intellectual property rights to brand the instrument as its own.
Tourism, Culture, and the Arts Minister Randall Mitchell made the announcement at the inaugural World Steelpan Conference 2024, held at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain. The timing couldn’t be better, as the news arrives just ahead of World Steelpan Day on August 11.
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Minister Mitchell emphasized the historical significance of this achievement, calling it the greatest milestone in intellectual property history for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. During his address, he said, “From 12 am, we received the news that an application for registration of a form of intellectual property known as geographical indication has been approved by the Trinidad and Tobago IP office. To put this into perspective, this is something that we’ve been talking about for 30 to 40 years. We even received advice in some quarters that this simply could not be done, and today it has been done. The intellectual property now resides with Pan Trinbago for the benefit of steelpan producers and manufacturers in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Mitchell likened this achievement to other globally recognized products, such as champagne from France, Swiss watches, and Scottish whiskey. He added, “With the proper management of the GI, we can guarantee the world that, despite the proliferation of steelpan production worldwide, the very best of steelpans—the Rolls Royce of steelpans—will always come from Trinidad and Tobago.”
Steelpan manufacturers and producers in Trinidad and Tobago will now have the right to affix the GI branding to their products, provided they adhere to established standards of production. While compliance with the GI specifications is not mandatory, the minister encouraged all steelpan manufacturers to take advantage of this branding opportunity.
This development is a game-changer for the local steelpan industry. Pan Trinbago President Beverley Ramsey-Moore expressed her excitement, stating, “This is a big moment for the country, yet another historical day. As we look towards the development of the industry, it is going to play a major role for our producers in everything pan—not only the instrument, but even the pan cases, the pan sticks, and all things pan. The manufacturing sector is about to take off in a very positive way. Having your instruments and everything pan branded as made in Trinidad and Tobago will definitely increase foreign exchange. The whole economy will boom from this major achievement.”
Ramsey-Moore also mentioned that a GI committee will be established to determine the cost of having pan products branded, further solidifying Trinidad and Tobago’s position as the home of premium quality steelpans.
