By SEETA PERSAD Monday, July 30 2012

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Restaurant opening: Finance Minister Larry Howai, second from left, and his wife Anu Howai, left, pose for a photograph with Shri Gajendra Kumar, head...

Minister of Finance and Economy Larry Howai had high praise for the executive committee of the Freeport-based Lakshmi Narayan Temple.

In addressing specially invited guests at the opening of a vegetarian restaurant, attached to the temple, last Saturday evening, Howai said it was good to see the Hindu temple has been developing ways and means to be self sufficient.

“I know you all will not be approaching me for money to finance the projects here,” he said, adding he was amazed at the complex created atop a steep hill on Siewdath Road, Freeport.

“I know five years from now this temple will be expanded, perhaps to other businesses that are religious in nature,” he said, noting it was evident that God has a hand in the works of the temple.

He complimented the spiritual head of the temple, Shri Gajendra Kumar of Utter Pradesh, India for his vision and hard work in making the temple more valuable to the people of the country.

Over the past five years, the temple has been rebuilt and refurbished to accommodate more devotees visiting from across the country.

Accompanied by his wife Anu Howai, the minister cut the ribbon to open the Namaste India vegetarian restaurant which is owned and operated by the members of the temple.

Indian High Commissioner to TT, Malay Mishra, also addressed guests, proposing the start of classes in music, vocal and dance by India-based tutors of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. He also proposed the opening of a business for Ayurvedic medicine and services at this venue in central Trinidad.

Mishra also mentioned that in the coming months, he expects the arrival of India’s Minister of Health, for the installation of a chair of Ayurvedic medicine at the University of the West Indies, this being a follow-up to talks that Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar had with the government of India on her visit in January.