Thursday, July 29 2010

THE TOBAGO House of Assembly (THA) is yet to finalise the lease arrangements for four lots of land given to the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha’s Tobago Hindu Society (THS) arm, for construction of a temple, as the THA received an application for that piece of land from another Hindu group.

Pulwatie Beepath, former president of the SDMS’ THS, yesterday told Newsday that the THS was never legally registered by the SDMS. She has since legally registered the society and has applied to the THA for the parcel of land.

She said this new organisation is in no way affiliated with the SDMS and commands the full support of Hindus living and working in Tobago. “We have over 75 members, which is nearly all the Hindus on the island, who totally support the new organisation,” said Beepath.

Beepath, who was president of the Maha Sabha’s THS arm, insisted that she should be awarded the lease for the parcel of land. “This land was granted to the THA and not the SDMS. Since my new organisation is one which encompasses all the peoples of Tobago, the land should be given to us for the people,” said Beepath.

However, Maha Sabha secretary general Satnarine Maharaj refuted these claims. “This is not true, we hold the documents regarding the Tobago lands. The land has been granted to the SDMS, since the THS is a subsidiary of the SDMS,” Maharaj said.

Rayan Ramoutar, the current president of the SDMS’ THS yesterday confirmed to Newsday that the application for the lease agreement has indeed been halted as a result of this new development.

“The new organisation has also applied for the land and since this has to be investigated the THA has halted the process of finalising the lease,” said Ramoutar.