Sat to Govt: Forget Section 34 and move on

Secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Satnarayan Maharaj believes the People’s Partnership Government should forget the Section 34 issue and continue to “perform.” Speaking to reporters at the launch of Ramleela celebrations in Debe, south Trinidad, yesterday, Maharaj said he did not think the Section 34 fiasco would cause the Government to lose the 2015 general election.

“How come one instance of misconduct could cause you to lose a whole election?” Maharaj said. Asked to explain what the partnership could do to move forward, Maharaj said: “There is no need to get over it...Go ahead and perform. “You produced a manifesto and I will judge you on this,” he said.

“At end of five years we will look to see if they fulfilled the promises as outlined in the manifesto. It is only then I will pass judgment on the Government, not halfway through its term.” Maharaj also said Tobago was being run “like a family affair.” “One man is the head and the other cousin is the head of finances...This is a family affair in Tobago.”

Maharaj said yesterday’s event was geared at reviving Ramleela celebrations. He said the Maha Sabha had 20,000 pupils in its schools and 1,200 teaching and auxiliary staff. “We decided to mobilise this group to ensure that Ramleela survives over the next 50 years.”

He also said the Maha Sabha planned to introduce tassa drumming in schools and participation in arts and drama was now part of the curriculum. Maharaj noted that the Government had purchased 1,400 harmoniums and tenor pans for the schools. Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal commended the children for their participation.

He said the Government will continue to support culture to reflect T&T’s multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious composition. Saying the re-enactment of Ramleela showed the triumph of good over evil, Moonilal said evil was rampant.

“The evil that Ravan represents are also the evils that are abound in our society, whether it is crime, delinquency, alcoholism. Whatever form of delinquency may exist, this is symbolised by the darkness and all that Ravan will stand for,” Moonilal said. He also revealed that a middle-and upper-scale housing settlement will be built in the area soon for students who will be attending the new University of the West Indies law campus in Debe.