NOT ONE BLACK CENT

“Since September 7, 2015 the IRO has not received one single black cent from this Government.

And this has curtailed a tremendous amount of programmes we used to have,” Maharaj said. He added that in contrast, the previous People’s Partnership (PP) government led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar began giving the IRO a subvention of $62,500 every three months from 2013.

Maharaj claimed Finance Minister Colm Imbert told the IRO they would receive more money than they had under the Partnership, but instead, they have received, “zero, zero, zero.” Back in December 2015, Maharaj stated that with the announcement of the country being in recession, he did not expect the receive the quarterly subvention from the PNM nor did he expect any funding from Government for Christian churches that Yuletide season.

Yesterday, Maharaj said with the subventions from the PP, the IRO was able host initiatives in various communities on child development, women, crime and counselling. He recalled that on July 12, 2015 it was the IRO that went into the Enterprise area, “to bring calm and peace”, in the midst of gang wars.

“And you see what is happening in Enterprise (now),” he said. Maharaj was asked to respond to complaints from chairman of the Spiritual Baptists Shouter Prohibition Ordinance Centenary Commemoration Committee, Rev Hazel-Ann Gibbs-De Peza, that $20,000 received from the State for yesterday’s Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day celebrations, was the lowest ever received and was “insulting and disrespectful.” His response was that unless and until all governments recognise religious organisations assist with improving the country and have an important role, there will continue to be issues where funding is concerned. Asked about the view that religious bodies should not receive any State funding but raise their own money, Maharaj said, “If that be the case then include everything like Carnival, chutney singing, soca monarch in the list of events and organisations not to receive state funding.” And what is worse, he added, is that these Carnival shows have promoters who charge patrons a fee to enter the show thereby generating profit even when getting Government assistance. He stressed that religious gatherings such as yesterday’s Spiritual Baptist celebrations were not designed for making money but for bringing people together in a joyful worship.

Maharaj said events require money for things such as refreshments, transport, tents, portable toilets etc. “Unless and until governments recognise importance and value of faith-based organisations we will continue to have rampant crime,” he warned.

Maharaj said he was not surprised to see that other religious organisations were having issues with funding while there continues to be “squandermania” in other areas of public spending. He added that this country does not have a problem with money per se, but with how expenditure is prioritised.

He said that for the IRO to serve the country as it has done in the past then either the Government or the private sector needs to come forward and assist. “We can only do as much by ourselves,” Maharaj said.

Repeated efforts by Newsday to get responses yesterday from Finance Minister (and acting Prime Minister) Colm Imbert and Community Development, Culture and the Arts Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby- Dolly, proved futile.

The IRO was founded in 1970 and currently comprises 25 religious organisations including the Anglican Church, Catholic Church, Spiritual Baptists, Baha’i Faith, Hindu, Muslim and Orisha.