Ministry raps NCN over skimpy costumes headline

The Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport yesterday rejected the headline of a story carried by the National Communications Network (NCN), ‘No skimpy costumes for Mash’, which was aired on January 23, 2018.

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry said that the headline can only be described as misleading and mischievous since it does not accord with what the subject Minister, Dr. George Norton said.

During the recently televised ‘Close Up’ programme on NCN, Dr. Norton encouraged designers to be aware 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’, the statement said.

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.” The statement said that despite Norton’s words being unambiguous on the news item, the public was misled by the erroneous headline.

The Ministry is calling for a clarification to be issued.