Little clowns with red noses and big shoes, mobilize asking for help from the Government

Page Seven Digital / La Paz

In the last hours the sector of children's entertainment actors, better known as clowns, mobilized in different parts of the country requesting help from the Government, because they are in an emergency and they do not have economic income to as a result of the restrictive measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Smiles shouldn't fade, even if you can't work!”, said the workers in the area of ​​children's parties and events. “We are the category that brings smiles and amuses adults and children alike. Today we are also affected by the situation and they cannot forget us, we only ask that they take us into account," they told the media.

In recent days they have put on their costumes again, red noses and big shoes to tell the drama they are experiencing since without children's events or shows, they cannot survive. Although they also stated that they are aware that they must be complied with the measures established by the authorities to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We earned our living working Saturday and Sunday, we don't have any income, we don't have a stable job and we don't depend on the Government, this pandemic unfortunately ruined us and financially affected us a lot,” the little clown Baterín told ATB, who works in La Paz and in El Alto with his six-year-old son, Platillón.

In both cities there are around 500 clowns and around 2,000 in the rest of the country, including clowns, magicians and puppeteers. "Goodbye Don Pepito, goodbye Don José. What do we want? Work!", they shouted gathered at the Government headquarters and told that they were never "wealthy" but they had to live, so now they say they are sad, they who always gave smiles.

On May 19, they delivered a letter to the Minister of Culture, Martha Yujra, asking for the reactivation of their sector and the declaration of an emergency for the artistic field, but they did not receive a response, for which they assure that they will initiate pressure measures because they are heard.

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Página Siete requested a response from the Ministry of Culture, however they did not respond and yesterday, Thursday, President Jeanine Añez decided to eliminate said State portfolio and add it to the Education portfolio.

The little clowns from Chuquisaca also went out to the 25 de Mayo square in Sucre to ask for help. "Today artists do not deserve to be forgotten by the whole of society, today artists need protection from the State," they sang to the rhythm of the song Bella Ciao, in a Gigavisión report.

“All the comrades are going out at the national level to ask for a response from the Government, we have sent a letter so that they can attend to us, we are asking for an emergency decree to the artists, but let it be now!. They don't want to serve us, it seems that we were third-level residents, that's why we are taking to the streets peacefully”, said the clown Tantontin.

In that department, the circus clowns of the city of Monteagudo transformed their circus tent into a bakery where they make food products to sell and resist the quarantine, even offering home delivery to the population.

It is the same situation of the magicians, tightrope walkers, dancers and clowns of the Abuhadba circus in Cochabamba, who bake delicious breads. Although the lights went out and the curtains closed, they looked for another way to resist, the pandemic. The popular bakery is open from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. “If life gives you lemons, you have to know how to make lemonade,” said one of the dancers.

They propose some biosecurity measures, such as developing shows with the theater modality and no longer with contact during children's games. In addition to having painted chinstraps so as not to lose the touch of humor, among other biosecurity measures that would apply.

“Boys, girls, we will meet soon, this will soon pass and we will laugh until we fall to the ground, we will eat cake (…) Long live the clowns, long live laughter therapy”, said Mixturita, interviewed by UPEA TV.