FIGHT RAGES ON OVER STRATHAM LODGE GROUND

Residents of Stratham Lodge South are once again protesting attempts by a contractor to erect a wall around a playing field they have been using for over 50 years, adding that they “are a quiet bunch of people, but we will not take this.” Speaking to Newsday yesterday, the angry residents gestured to the three guards and three pitbulls posted at the ground to keep them out. This they claim, has been sanctioned by Secretary General of the Maha Sabha Sat Maharaj. The residents are claiming that the empty plot of land at the Corner of Churchill Roosevelt Highway and Stratham Lodge Road South does not belong to the Maha Sabha, and that they have no legal authority to “enclose the structure with a brick wall.”

They expressed the belief that following the construction of the wall, the ground will be used to promote chutney shows, as well as the sale of alcohol.  They revealed that approximately six weeks ago, contractor Gansham Pirmal, also known as DJ Tank, moved in and began erecting the wall. When Newsday contacted Sat Maharaj, he explained that the Maha Sabha possessed a 99-year lease to construct a primary school on the land, and that this was done when the Tunapuna Hindu School was constructed approximately 300 yards east of the contentious land. However, with regard to the recreation ground at Stratham Lodge, Maharaj revealed that the Maha Sabha intended to build a Technical Vocational School, and that the plans were currently being drawn up. He stated that residents had begun encroaching on the land by some 30 feet, and that surveyors had to be called in to once again redefine the boundaries. Maharaj confirmed that their contract to erect the wall had been awarded to DJ Tank by the Maha Sabha, the rightful owners of the land. When Newsday visited the area yesterday, we were informed by residents that five Muslimeen men claiming to be from the Jamaat, identified themselves as being sent from Maharaj. Though they were not directly threatened by the Muslimeen men, the residents said their mere presence was intimidating.

When questioned about this development, Maharaj said Maha Sabha had reason to hire its own security following the theft of  material including cement, gravel, sand, lumber and concrete blocks. Questioned as to whether or not he had hired any Muslimeen guards, he denied this stating “the Maha Sabha has its own security, I don’t know anything about Muslimeen guards.” Adding that police patrols had been increased, Maharaj said it was necessary to increase their guards following incidents where a builder was beaten, and a back-hoe worker chased. He denied knowing obout any meeting between the contractor and residents, and stated that he had “no power to give anyone Maha Sabha land, only to protect the land.”