Following the crowning of the wrong woman as queen at the conclusion of its Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has offered an “unequivocal” apology to all the delegates for what it says was a tabulation error.
The apology was issued on Monday in wake of heavy criticism of the ministry’s handling of the blunder, including its initial failure to apologise to Amber Andrews, the young woman who was erroneously crowned as the pageant winner before being stripped of the title.
The ministry on Sunday night announced that Region 7 delegate Kristie Emma Rambharat, of Karrau Village, who secured a total of 768 points, had won the pageant and Andrews, the announced winner, was 3rd runner up.
In a statement issued last evening, it offered contrition for the controversy, which it called unfortunate.
“The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs unequivocally apologizes to every delegate who has participated in the Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant 2022 who has been caught in this unfortunate situation,” it said.
“The Honourable Minister offers her sincerest and most emphatic apologies to Miss Amber Andrews, who has been, without any fault of her own, made to endure unwarranted emotional distress. Apologies are also extended to Miss Andrews’ family and the community of Moraikobai,” it added.
The statement reiterated that the wrong result was announced due to an error that occurred while scores were being tallied and made it clear that the judges bore no fault for the state of affairs.
Videos posted from the pageant on various social media sites showed a raucous reaction from the audience towards the announcement of Andrews being announced as the winner. Many persons also took to Facebook to express their anger and dissatisfaction at the result.
In response, the ministry on Sunday blamed an erroneous tabulation for the incorrect results being announced and identified Rambharat as the winner. An awards ceremony was scheduled to be held last evening where Rambharat was due to receive the crown.
According to the ministry’s explanation, the final scores were tabulated based on a compound scoring system that was implemented so as not to undermine any efforts of the delegates in every segment. This included tabulating the total scores for the six (6) segments plus the final question.
“The Ministry understands that the judges’ decisions are final, however we wish to point out that the Judges’ score sheets were tabulated incorrectly by the Tally Clerk which resulted in erroneous figures which has affected the outcome of the announced results…,” it noted.
Following a “thorough and accurate investigation auditing the judges’ scoresheets,” the ministry said the accurate findings were:
Region 7 – 768 – Queen – Miss Amerindian Heritage 2022
Region 4 – 736 – 1st Runner Up
Region 8 – 672 – 2nd Runner Up
Region 5 – 626.5 – 3rd Runner Up
Region 6 – 626.5 – 3rd Runner Up
While the ministry extended its gratitude to the delegates for their “hard work, professionalism and dedication,” it did not initially apologize to Andrews.
In a statement of her own before the apology was eventually forthcoming, Andrews said that she was publicly humiliated and even cyber-bullied, not only by the audience, but also by the judges and other pageant personnel. As a result, she expressed her discontentment with the ministry not issuing an apology to her in its initial release explaining the results or through any other medium.
“I was in NO WAY responsible for any judging criteria and if I’m to be honest I was shocked as EVERYONE else. I was cheering for all the delegates on and off the stage. But after the crowning moment I now realize they were never cheering for me (except Regions 1, 6 and 8),” she said.
The young woman also noted that the events had caused “emotional damage” to her and her family. “I was publicly humiliated. I’m hurt. NO ONE deserves this. Good luck to whoever they handpick since the judges’ decision was not final,” she added.
Andrews family and friends also joined the call for the ministry to issue an apology to the young woman. Andrews’ sister, Analisa Andrews-Roberts, in a Facebook post, called on the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to issue a public apology to her sister “for the trauma she endured and continues to endure” as well as to “the rest of the delegates that did not get their moment they deserved.”
Stabroek News yesterday tried to contact the ministry and pageant organizers but calls to their phones went unanswered.
