MOE: Setting The Record Straight.

The Ministry of Education has released a statement addressing a recently published letter, highlighting several inaccuracies in the claims made.

See full statement below:

"The Ministry of Education notes a letter to your columns from Mr. Vishnu Bisram that contains inaccuracies both by commission and omission.

The facts have been brought to the attention of Mr. Bisram, which he acknowledged, but he has declined the invitation to correct the record. It falls upon us, therefore, to do so.

On May 9th, 2025, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand was clear in her condemnation of the lyrics of one calling himself “Baby Skello.”

She said,"I stand with the Hindu community unreservedly in condemning the idiotic mumblings by some Baby Skello. The “singer’s” apparent explanation (which he offered it appears with a view to absolving him of any wrongdoing) worries me more. He says he was speaking of someone’s Mother and not Mother
Latchmi. And I’m here wondering when and who allowed him to think “singing” anything so crass and crude and abusive would be acceptable.

Are we listening to [unacceptable, abusive content], and then complaining when it goes too far? How is that music?
We have the power to censor artistes ourselves. Not by law. (And I don’t believe in state censorship.) But by consciously deciding not to listen, buy and/or in any other way support their brand and products.”

Indeed, Minister Manickchand was one of the first persons to condemn the said offensive piece.

Ms. Priya Manickchand, both in her capacity as Minister and as a citizen long before she became Minister, has always stood with women, defended them against abuse and promoted their rights and opportunities.

She has also consistently spoken out against inconsistent and odd court decisions. In fact, today (June 19), Facebook reminds us that on June 19, 2020, she said as follows:

“Let us examine the uncomfortable question of why the APNU/AFC has taken the unusual decision to file its latest
application in the Court of Appeal. Are they judge shopping?

Judge shopping is a term used to identify the search for what the shopper believes/perceives are pliable/ biased/ sympathetic judges.

And are the Court of Appeal Judges not uncomfortable with and resentful of the fact that APNU/AFC seems comfortable not only with judge shopping but with doing it in front of the eyes of the world? At the end of this, and there is an end, we will all have to account to the freedom loving citizens of this world and to generations to come for our actions. Individually and collectively.

Hard questions. Answers will reveal themselves in time.”

We are collectively very glad that on that occasion, the then opposition member was not cowed by what was before the courts."

Shena Henry
Senior Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Education.