PM: Kamla right, attacks at Hindu sites not hate crimes

IN a very rare instance, the Prime Minister has agreed with sentiments expressed by the Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that acts of vandalism at Hindu places of worship should not necessarily be viewed as religious intolerance or an attack against the Hindu community.

At the Post-Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Rowley stated, “I want to say that not very often I agree with the Opposition Leader. On this occasion I cannot take issue with what she said. What she said is basically fact.

In a statement on Wednesday, in response to the burning of an effigy of Rawan at Tarouba, and the stoning of devotee’s vehicles and temple at Freeport while they worshipped, Persad-Bissessar said there was no evidence to suggest these were examples of hate crime.

“Ours is a country where temples, mosques and churches are peacefully situated next to each other, sharing carparks, service facilities and recreational spaces. We all celebrate and partake in each other’s religious festivals and celebrations across any political, ethnic, race or social class lines," Persad-Bissessar said.

“Therefore, it is dangerous to our society's peace and civil stability when intellectually lazy allegations of hate crimes and religious intolerance are thrown out, without an iota of supporting evidence.

“While there is a violent crime crisis ongoing, modern TT is not a society of religious intolerance or religious hate, and I call on citizens to categorically reject those wicked and provocative suggestions.”

On Thursday, in accord with her statements, concurring that there was an issue with crime, Rowley discouraged people who would choose to use these instances of criminal activities against places of worship, to portray that as the state of play in TT.

“On this occasion, I think the Opposition Leader was quite correct in saying that we are not to take that and say it is something against Hindus,” Rowley said.

He said criminals had gone to other places of worship interfering with mosques and Christians, as well, had been affected.

He cited an attack against Roman Catholic priest Fr Clyde Harvey, to illustrate his point.

Persad-Bissessar, in her statement, also identified other places of worship by different denominations that had been targets of criminal activities.

Rowley also agreed with Persad-Bissessar that places of worship were soft targets and attracted criminals looking for an opportunity, along with mentally disturbed individuals and drug addicts.

Having been baptised in the Methodist faith, attended an Anglican school, married a woman of the Catholic faith and having friends in political parties across the board, Rowley said he could not subscribe to the notion of one group attacking another because of their religion.

“What we have are petty criminals carrying out criminal conduct at places of worship and the police must make every effort to find them and stop it.”

He said such actions should not be repeated.