Only pujas at Palmiste Park

THE EDITOR: Please permit me through your medium to direct this letter to the East Indians living in this country and most particularly to Mr Basdeo Panday. Indian Arrival Day is celebrated on May 30 and on this auspicious day last year, there was evidence of a very large celebration at Palmiste Park, San Fernando. People from various parts of the country gathered and took part in the “pujas” of the day. This was truly a moment of historic significance. I observed the Christian and Muslim community did not celebrate anything, this leads me to the question, why? I know for a fact that we have a large number of Christian and Muslim sections of the community who are of East Indian descent. Mr Panday is the leader of the UNC and this party’s support base is comprised predominantly of people of East Indian descent, and of various religious affiliations. I suggest that he (Mr Panday) should attempt to facilitate the various religions come May 30 2004, because all our forefathers came from India and no one wants to be left out. Mr Panday should realise that by taking the initiative not only brings the people together but also strengthens his political base, rather than concentrating only on the “Hindu puja” at Palmiste Park.

In this regard I offer the following suggestion to Mr Panday. Try to encourage the widest possible participation in Indian Arrival Day celebrations. This can be achieved simply with a little work, proper planning and organisation. I believe that certain locations in the country should be identified for the different religious bodies to be able to participate meaningfully. If a particular religion is not comfortable celebrating in the immediate area with another religious body then I suggest Mid Centre Mall for the Christians, Aranguez Savannah for the Muslims and Palmsite Park for the Hindus. Mr Panday, as the stalwart and pride of the East Indian community and the country by extension, I think that this noble effort will render confidence, co-operation, mutual understanding, harmony and equality to these people who look upon you as their role model.

R  KISSOON
Palmsite