Hajj pilgrims face Piarco airport inconvenience

The group is making the call in the light of the great inconvenience and indignity being experienced by Muslims during this crucial period in the Islamic calendar when they leave their homeland to travel to Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

Currently, the atrium of the airport is under repair and it has become impossible for the facility to facilitate the large crowds which accompany the pilgrims to bid their family members goodbye and make final supplications before their departure.

Ummah TT respectfully suggests that an open area to the east of the departure lounge be immediately available specifically for the Muslim community to fulfil the religious rites before departure for the holiest site in Islam.

Currently, there are five Hajj groups which are authorised by the government of Saudi Arabia to take Muslim pilgrims to the Sacred Land where they will perform one of the most important obligations of the religion lasting three weeks to a month.

Ummah TT believes that the current ad hoc arrangements where the departing Muslims are forced to jostle with other travellers, and perform their rites of departure in an undignified manner is unbefitting and possibly infringes on the constitutional right of Muslims to practice their religion.

Indeed, it is incumbent on the Airports Authority to make contingency plans to ensure that the several hundreds of pilgrims who pay up to $60,000 each to make the trip are allowed to depart in comfort, and with a peace of mind which will not detract from the serenity and tranquility required for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Ummah TT is also drawing to the attention of the Airports Authority the desirability of allocating more parking spaces for the families of the pilgrims who customarily accompany their loved ones and jama’at members since serious problems are currently being experienced in this regard.

On an ordinary day, Ummah TT has pointed out, it is very difficult to get a parking spot especially at peak periods on the arrival and departure schedule and this situation is compounded in this extremely busy Hajj season.

The group feels that Muslims deserve to be treated with courtesy and in a manner befitting the status of the importance of their reason for being at the airport during this period when they forsake their friends and family to travel thousands of miles for the sake of obeying the commands of Allah, Most Exalted.

Indeed, their departure from Piarco is especially significant and momentous since the pilgrims are quite unsure whether they will return safely to the land of their birth since Muslims believe that no one except Allah, Most Merciful knows the future.

Ummah TT calls upon the Airports Authority to urgently put in place all arrangements to make the experience of the pilgrims and their families one of sacredness and dignity that all religious rites require.

The group said that the proposed arrangements for the Muslims will also serve in good stead when they return, God willing, after the Hajj when the airport will be transformed into a sea of joy and happy homecoming following the successful completion of the religious rite.

Ummah TT is confident that its recommendations to accommodate the Muslims will be treated with the importance and urgency it deserves.

Imtiaz Mohammed via email