Dookeran: Temple desecration an outrage

STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE WINSTON DOOKERAN,
MP FOR ST AUGUSTINE, POLITICAL LEADER, CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE ON THE VANDALISM AND DESECRATION OF THE TEMPLE IN THE SEA


I am deeply shocked and outraged by the vandalism and desecration of the Siewdass Sadhu Temple in the Sea last night (Friday). That a place of worship could be attacked and desecrated in such a manner emphasizes the depth to which the very soul of our nation has sunk.

This abhorrent act should be condemned by every single citizen regardless of religious affiliation since it is clear that religious bigotry has no place in our society. Whether this act was performed through premeditation by a group or groups acting in collusion or a single, demented being, it can only be interpreted as an attack against freedom of religion.

This despicable act was facilitated by the State’s lack of regard and appreciation for the cultural cluster - comprised of the Temple in the Sea, Waterloo Cremation Site, the Indian Caribbean Museum and the Hanuman Murti at the Dattatreya Centre – in Carapichima and Waterloo. The fact that no government ministry, not Ministry of Culture, not Ministry of Tourism nor Ministry of National Security has seen it fit to provide security for any of these heritage sites speaks volumes as to the callousness of the present regime.

I now call on the government to provide the required funds to repair whatever damage has been caused by the(se) coward vandal(s) and to ensure that this and other heritage sites around the country are adequately protected from such future desecration.

It is also my hope that the Police Service will treat this as a “serious crime” with a view to apprehending and convicting the(se) criminal(s) immediately so the flames of religious tension, ignited by this incident, can be extinguished.

It is my belief that the majority of Trinbagionians live together in harmony and wish to continue so doing. I urge all in the national community to keep a level head when dealing with this matter and to ensure that similar incidents are not repeated elsewhere