Religious furore erupts

The angry employees said they received a letter dated October 9 informing them that they will not be able to hold Divali celebrations this year.

According to the employees, they were not told the reason for the decision, but added that they were also informed verbally that their responsibility is to work and not to pray. One employee said he was also told by an official that he did not want any flags (jhandi) planted on the compound. It is customary for Hindus to plant a flag after a pooja (prayer meeting).

The workers have already spoken with an attorney, the Maha Sabha and the sugar union led by Rudy Indarsingh.

Yesterday, secretary general of the Maha Sabha, Sat Maharaj, said, "We have given support to the workers at the feed centre. Our response is that the official is a fanatic who does not understand that Divali is a national public holiday celebrated throughout the country, and for him to give permission for Christmas celebrations is displaying religious intolerance to Hinduism.

"We have joined with the sugar union to fight this discrimination and at the same time, the attorney of the Maha Sabha, Anand Ramlogan, has written a letter to the official asking for a retraction or response in seven days, or legal action will be taken," said Maharaj.

He added that the Maha Sabha will be inviting all Hindus, non-Hindus and even the Inter-Religious Organisation to converge at the centre on the day of the Divali celebrations at the Sugarcane Feed Centre. Agriculture Minister Jarette Narine yesterday said it was not true that he had given instructions to an official at the centre to prevent employees from conducting Divali celebrations.

Director of the Sugarcane Feed Centre, Floyd Neckles, yesterday said he did not wish to comment on the matter.