By Abigail Headley
The father of the girl who was disqualified from the children’s Mash competition for singing about the government’s 6.5% increase say that he and his wife are trying to console her as she is disappointed at the turn of events.
Stabroek News yesterday reached out to Ezra Minty, the father of the 6-year-old disqualified contestant who declined to comment further than that he and the child’s mother and other relatives are doing their best to help her deal with the disappointment.
The young child performed and was approved at both the sub-regional and regional levels of the competition but her entry was disqualified from the national level. When questioned on why the officials waited until the contestant arrived at the highest level to be embarrassingly disqualified, Head of the Allied Arts Unit (AAU) of the Ministry of Education (MoE), Nicholas Fraser said that the region is at fault for letting it pass through their hands. He noted that he issued a letter to said region to explain the unfortunate situation so that it would not transpire again.
One of the guidelines found in the rules booklet states, that “The lyrics of the calypso MUST be submitted to the Unit of Allied Arts along with the Entry Forms”. This indicates that the lyrics were first vetted by the relevant officials before the contestant was allowed to perform onstage.
According to several sources close to the ministry and who would have worked on different occasions at the Children’s Costume Competition, there have been instances where political entries were overlooked. These sources surmised that this time the calypso entry was not permitted given the current unrest with teachers across Guyana over their salaries.
When news of the child’s disqualification from the competition surfaced on social media, it sparked outrage from viewers who criticized the judges’ decision. In response, the MoE stated that the Allied Arts Unit is committed to upholding principles of excellence, respect, and ethical conduct within the education system.
The release emphasized adherence to established rules, such as “age-appropriate” content, and decisions to reject certain items were communicated transparently to schools in order to uphold standards rather than censor content.
The AAU has maintained that the calypso which was disqualified from the national level of the Mashramani Costume Competition was in breach of the rules.
Yesterday head of the AAU, Fraser declined to give further information apart from that which is in the press release issued by the unit. However, he referenced rule 10 of the Children’s Mash Booklet which states, “The calypso can be based on any topic excluding Politics and Religion”.
Fraser added that the lyrics of the song presented by the 6-year-old Fort Ordnance Primary School pupil are considered political by the department. According to a source close to the ministry, there is a thin line between something being political or social in nature. The source explained that while the song is speaking to a current social reality, it is also political given the ongoing strike situation and the topic of same, which is the 6.5% increase announced by the government for public servants.
In her presentation, the Region Six contestant portrayed a public servant who is questioning how she is supposed to survive with “6.5”. It should be noted that in past competitions young contestants were allowed to perform disguised as adults.
The lyrics referenced the rising cost of living, alluding to the many struggles faced by citizens as a result of this. The lyrics follow:
“Tell me how I must survive with 6.5?
Please tell meh how I must survive with 6.5?
I have a burning issue on meh chest
I can’t even rest
How cost of living everything doubling
This thing troubling
Tell me how I must carry on
With a seemingly one arm?
Tell me how I must survive with 6.5?
Tell me how I must survive with 6.5?
Every time I go to the market
Everything sky rocket
Rice, the beans, the cheese the liver
Them mek me want shiver
Tell me how I must carry on with a seemingly one arm?
Tell me how I must survive with 6.5?
Please tell me how I must survive with 6.5?
The other day the landlord come fuh he rent
I pay him the last few cents
Plus GPL GWI and the rest of bill
I pay them against meh will
Tell me how I must carry on with a seemingly one arm?
Tell meh how I must survive with 6.5,” the lyrics read.
This newspaper observed that nowhere in said lyrics is there mention of the current protest and strike action which is deemed political by the Government of Guyana. Additionally, no mention is made of any political party, the Guyana Teachers’ Union, or teachers.
