Newly-appointed Transport Minister Devant Maharaj refused to comment on Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley's denunciation of him as a Cabinet Minister. During a People's National Movement public meeting in Couva on Wednesday night, Rowley reminded the crowd of alleged remarks of bigotry against Muslims made by Maharaj several years ago. Rowley said: "I want to ask all Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago, how do you feel that the Prime Minister voluntarily picks up and puts into Cabinet a man who has his own views about Muslims in Trinidad?" Contacted yesterday, Maharaj said: "I don't take Dr Rowley seriously and will not make any comments." He said he wished Rowley best of luck in his political career. Unaware and surprised to hear Rowley was in Couva, Maharaj said: "Then he should contest the Couva seat."
Asked if he felt the comments he made in 2004 would negatively affect him, Maharaj added: "When I start to perform, call me back." Maharaj was a public relations officer at the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) at the time. The issue was taken to court in 2005 by the NLCB, challenging the decision by the Statutory Authorities Service Commission not to prefer a charge of misconduct against Maharaj over the alleged remarks. According to the facts, as stated in the judgement handed down by puisne judge Nolan Bereaux in the High Court in June 2006, on September 3 2004 the NLCB held an official dinner to honour president and chief executive officer of the Tennessee Lottery Education Corporation Rebecca Paul.
Five days later, acting secretary to the board, Noel Maloney, reported that during the dinner Maharaj had made derogatory remarks about people of Muslim religion and their holy books. Page three of the judgement stated: "Mr Maharaj's comments allegedly included "All Muslims were terrorists" and "All Muslims in Pakistan and other countries should be executed even if it meant wiping out whole nations and the rest of them should then move to Saudi Arabia." Maharaj had denied making those statements and the notice of motion was dismissed. The court ordered NLCB to pay the commission and Maharaj's costs.