SEVERAL senators, during the budget debate in the Upper House on Tuesday, condemned recent acts of vandalism perpetrated against Hindus and their places of worship, calling for an end to these attacks.
In a separate release, the National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) also condemned these attacks and called for respect and tolerance towards Hindus is society. (See story below) On Sunday, stones were thrown at the Pranavananda Ashram at Temple Street off Beaucarro Road in Freeport, where Hindus were holding a religious prayer meeting. Several vehicles belonging to the worshippers were damaged. An effigy of the demon King Ravan was burnt by vandals in Tarouba just hours earlier. The effigy is a critical element of Ramleela celebrations.
During the debate, Independent Senator Deoroop Teemal said the victims don’t believe the authorities are treating the incidents with the seriousness they require.
“Reports have been made to the police and reports have been taken. But from what I gather by interacting with those...who use these facilities...they think the police are being dismissive of these incidents.”
He said reports are that police believe the acts were perpetrated by a vagrant or a mentally disturbed person. However, Teemal – a devout Hindu himself – said he does not believe this is the case.
“What we need to note is that to take alcohol and to take meat into a temple deliberately, to desecrate a temple, it calls for really a high level of organisation and thinking from vagrants and mentally disturbed people,” he said.
“We should not continue to be dismissive of it because history would show us, not only in TT, but all over the world that these things may start as trickles, but they can really mount into serious problems, and as a nation we need to bear that in mind.”
Newsday was unable to get a comment on the matter from police officials. Temporary senator Dr Tim Gopeesingh stood in for opposition senator Anil Roberts, who was ill on Tuesday. Speaking after Senator Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal, Gopeesingh questioned why she too did not condemn the acts, as she belongs to the Hindu faith.
“Obviously, she belongs to a government that has failed to condemn these acts of perpetration of desecration. Senator Teemal condemned it. I, on behalf of the Opposition, condemned these acts of desecration. We call upon the PNM government to also condemn it,” he said.
“They failed to do so and we listen to see whether the Honourable Prime Minister will condemn it or the Minister of National Security will condemn it.”
With at least five of these acts against Hindu religious houses being recorded since late last year, Gopeesingh called on the Minister of National Security to direct his team to investigate these incidents.
Later in the sitting, Dr Amery Browne, Senate Leader and Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, condemned the recent acts of desecration.
He said: “I just want to join Senator Deoroop Teemal very clearly and categorically, to join with my colleague and any other member who would have spoken on this topic, and to categorically and completely condemn any attacks and all attacks of vandalism against temples, places of worship in TT, of any shape or form. Complete and total condemnation.
“We are a peaceful, loving people in this country. We have to preserve that and protect that.” Browne said he regularly speaks to many visitors to TT, including diplomats.
“The first thing they say about TT is the way we are able to get along with each other. The first thing they say is how warm and hospitable we are.
“We have to preserve and protect that, and those types of descriptives that I heard – and the acts of vandalism threaten that precious reality.”