Georgetown, Guyana – (January 25, 2018) The Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport rejects the headline for a story carried by the National Communications Network (NCN), ‘No skimpy costumes for Mash’, which was aired on January 23, 2018. The headline can only be described as misleading and mischievous since it is not in accordance with the utterances of the subject Minister, Dr. George Norton.
During the recently televised ‘Close Up’ programme on NCN, Dr. Norton encouraged designers to be cognizant of the fact that Mashramani is a family oriented celebration. The Minister’s response to a question was, “We’re appealing on behalf of the children…it is not true that you have be as revealing as possible to have the interest and the attraction that you would desire.” While the Minister made this appeal, he did not instruct that there would be ‘No skimpy costumes for Mash’.
He instead was making the point that costumes do not have to be what is termed revealing to be attractive. The Culture Minister also recalled the work of Guyanese-born costume designer, Mr. Peter Minshall, who is famous in Trinidad and Tobago for displaying his creative brilliance through lavish body coverings.
During the NCN programme, Dr. Norton, in reference to designers, said that “You don’t necessarily have to go skimpy, you don’t necessarily have to show skin in order to produce a fine work of art. As a matter of fact, we think that the more you’re covered, the more possibility you have of showing your designs.”
Despite Minister Norton’s words being unambiguous on the news item, the public was misled by the erroneous headline.
The Ministry is disappointed in the National Communications Network and is, therefore, calling for a clarification to be issued and reminds the media that they have a responsibility to provide accurate information to the members of the public.
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