The Tobago Hindu Society (THS) wants Sat Maharaj, Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), to apologize to Tobagonians for his recent statements about their work ethics.
THS President Pulwattie Beepath said the organisation had once been affiliated with the SDMS but they split during the period 2006-2010 because of a land dispute. The THS did not want the SDMS to be granted land by the THA and wanted the lands to instead be given to a Tobago-based organisation. They eventually settled the dispute and went their separate ways with the SDMS selling a plot of land at Carnbee and the THS getting half an acre of land from the THA to build a temple.
Beepath said Tobagonians should not be painted with a broad brush as Maharaj did.
"I believe that Sat Maharaj should apologise to the people of Tobago for what he said. The East Indians in Tobago are welcome on this island, we have a very good relationship with the Tobagonians, we have built a strong relationship with the Hindu community, the East Indian community and we believe Sat should apologise," she said.
She added that Tobago's minority East Indian community are not worried about any backlash as a result of Maharaj's statements since everyone on the island resides at a higher level of peace of harmony.
"I have been here on the island for 32 years. My children were born here and they went to school here. We live like a family and whenever we have any programmes here we get all the co-operation from various groups and bodies, including the THA," she said.