The family of the child who was disqualified from the Mashramani calypso contest after she sang about the government’s 6.5% salary increase yesterday said that the incident has left them “deeply disappointed and disheartened”.
After being allowed to contest several rounds of the children’s Mashramani competition, Ezeka Minty was disqualified in what has been seen as censorship and a clear violation of the child’s rights under the United Nations’ Rights of the Child Convention. The disqualification of the child has also been seen as reflecting the government’s intolerance of anything remotely critical even from a child.
Article 13 of the convention says: 1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice. 2. The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: (a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or (b) For the protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals.
The parents, Ezra and Adele Minty said: “We have watched our child pour her heart and soul into this calypso, dedicating countless hours to perfecting this art and preparing for this momentous event. She had to wake up very early in the morning to travel to Georgetown for rehearsals on two occasions and then to hear she was disqualified from the competition. To see her hard work and talent go unrecognized due to some persons seeing it as political and not age-appropriate is truly disheartening.
“As parents, we have always encouraged our child to pursue her passion for music and showcase her talent to the world. We have witnessed the joy and fulfilment that music brings to her life. To have her chance at the National competition taken away in such a manner was a blow not only to our child, who became ill for two days after hearing that she was disqualified but also to our entire family. It hurt even more when our child wanted to know if she was disqualified because people did not like her”.
They said that they understand that rules and regulations are put in place for a reason, but as parents they would never have allowed their child to participate in this competition if they had felt in some way that this song was political or not suitable for her age.
“However, we cannot help but feel a sense of injustice and disappointment at the outcome. Our child deserved the opportunity to compete in the final, and to be recognized for her talent and dedication”, they said.
They added: “Despite this setback, we remain proud of our baby, our princess, our young Calypsonian our Champion, and all that she has achieved thus far. We will continue to support and encourage her in her musical endeavours, knowing that her passion and talent will shine through regardless of any obstacles she may face. As parents, we will stand by our child, offering love, guidance, and unwavering support as she navigates this disappointment and emerges stronger and more determined than ever before”.
They thanked the Guyana Teachers Union and the overseas-based Guyanese family which has offered to supply Ezeka with yearly school supplies, members of their family, the schools and church family and to all other persons near and far who would have reached out to them.
Meanwhile, the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) has said that it is currently investigating the disqualification of Minty and a secondary school child from the Children’s Mashramani competitions.
During an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, CEO of the RCC, Andre Gonsalves, highlighted the importance of adhering to protocols and giving the respondents in the matter an opportunity to respond. Gonsalves referenced the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly articles 12 and 17, which emphasize the rights of children to be heard and to participate.
The CEO said that the commission aims to thoroughly investigate the matter and consult with various stakeholders, including the parents, teachers, schools, and relevant institutions. He also emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation.
While underscoring the importance of upholding children’s rights and responsibilities, Gonsalves noted that evaluating compliance with national laws, standards, and international commitments is equally important. As such, the commission’s investigation will seek to uncover the truth and ensure justice for the affected students.
Aleema Nasir, Chairperson of the Commission, expressed the commission’s commitment to gathering all relevant facts before making any comments on the issue. She acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances and emphasized the importance of ensuring the well-being of children.
