Mayor condemns ‘distasteful’ song about Education Minister

…says it serves no purpose but to agitate Guyana’s fragile society

Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine has condemned as “gross and distasteful” the song circulating social media which paints Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in a poor light.

“As Mayor of the City of Georgetown, I encourage every right-thinking Guyanese to reject this song which must not be tolerated in our country. Women form the backbone of our nation and are our first connection to the world. Our women must be protected and must not be used or abused for cheap political points. The people of Guyana must not be exposed to such crass behaviour despite political differences,” Narine said.
The song circulating social media was remixed from chants made at protests organised by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) in front of the Education Ministry in objection to the Government requirement for all citizens, including teachers, to show proof of vaccination or negative PCR tests to gain access public buildings, including schools. The teachers also protested the ministry over its failure to meet a number of financial agreements signed in 2018.

The song referred to the Education Minister as a particular animal and speaks about teachers ‘taming’ her. According to the Mayor, the song serves no other purpose than to rile up an already fragile society.
“We face a national crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and are challenged by actions that straddle the line of a creeping dictatorship. I am disappointed by this social media post and encourage that our energies are directed to develop our country for all of Guyana to benefit. We must ensure that our constitutional rights are safeguarded and that our citizens especially our women feel safe. I pray that good sense prevails, and this video is removed from circulation,” he urged.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Mark Phillips also condemned the song’s disrespectful message and called on leaders and members of the public to respect the work the Education Minister has put into managing the education of the nation’s children.