The children's murgas Los Chau Chau, Titiñecos, Noveleros and Intoxicaditos have filed a complaint with the Festivities Department of the Arrecife City Council after the contest held this weekend, considering that the event took place in "unacceptable" conditions and with a "serious lack of planning and institutional responsibility”.
In a joint statement, the groups express their "deep indignation" over what happened during the development of the contest, pointing out that the detected deficiencies constituted a "lack of respect towards the participating murgas, the families, and, especially, towards the minors".Among the irregularities denounced, the "deplorable state of the bathrooms, without cleaning or water supply, as well as the non-existence of waste collection points, which generated generalized dirt in the enclosure" stand out. They also warn of the "presence of heavy machinery and elevators in the dressing room area without safety measures, while children were passing through the place".
Problems with food
The murgas also denounce late and deficient sound checks that forced them to cut their performance time, belittling months of preparation, as well as the delay in delivering food to the participants. "They particularly deem serious the non-compliance with the request for menus for celiac children, who were left without a safe food alternative".The statement also states that parents and relatives had to relocate the stage because it did not meet the necessary measures, in addition to providing their own electrical material to have power in the dressing rooms, assuming risks that were not their responsibility. "Added to this are attitudes of contempt from some workers and the absence of political leaders during the event," criticize the murgasThe groups consider "especially alarming" that these situations occurred in an event with child participation and demand "explanations, the clarification of responsibilities and the immediate adoption of measures to prevent similar events from recurring""The management has been unacceptable," conclude the carnival groups, who expect a formal, written response from the Arrecife City Council