Dear Mr Maharaj,
I always consider myself to be a respectful person, mindful of people holding high leadership positions. So too, I have always respected other religious views although I may not believe such.
Now here's my point, sir...
Your recent agitated scorn poured on all those who oppose child marriages is way out of line, even as ancestral beliefs have practised such for centuries before.
Now, that may be allowed by certain sections in the far east, including in the "mother land" India, but here is where we draw the line. We Indo-Trinidadians, whilst acknowledge our ancestral cultures with utmost respect and pride, cannot be like the proverbial ostrich and bury our heads in the sand when it concerns the future lives those who we love dearly–our children!
Sir, you have got to wake quickly and open your eyes to reality. We are in the 21st century; people of Indian origins have evolved in many phases and have achieved many accolades and contributed significantly to the development of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean (too numerous to mention here) since coming from the "motherland."
You have got to realise that all who you say "oppose" these under-age marriages are other civil leaders who are real to societal changes. And who, because of these behavioural changes in lifestyles and the upsurge in criminal activities in early marriages, are in fact voicing their concerns for these relationships and hopefully will want legislation to be put in place to curb and control these patterns.
Recent statistics will support the fact that under-aged marriages have led to dysfunctional families. Now, you may know and argue that many couples have been married at early ages and I too do know of some cases. But many supporting factors including the sober and overwhelming belief that to raise the age to 20 will ensure that "mature minds will make mature decisions" have to be taken into account.
Mr Maharaj, please engage in constructive discussions with the other civil authorities for benefit of all peoples of different races in cosmopolitan T&T.
Colin Ghouralal,
Chaguanas