The secretary for the Williamsville Hindu Temple is calling for justice after vandals smashed parts of the temple over the weekend, but did not take any valuables.
Temple secretary Vashti Sookoo, said she was disturbed that someone would deliberately wreck their cherished temple.
In a GML interview, Sookoo said: “We try to give back to the community, not to take away from it. To know that society has declined so badly is a shame on humanity. I am very hurt to have to report this to T&T. What are we becoming in society?”
Sookoo, who also serves as the councillor for Reform Manahambre, said: “This is a public temple; it was built by members of the Williamsville community. Contributions came from throughout T&T. We got assistance under Mr. Panday to complete the temple.”
Sookoo expressed the need for assistance to repair and secure the temple, which holds deep historical and cultural significance.
“This is a temple built by our forefathers. It started as a shed, and generations came down to develop it into what it is now. It’s not a private temple; it’s a community temple, and children have grown up here. We always try to raise funds to better the temple. I can’t see why people would want to do something like this,” she lamented.
Sookoo called upon the public to cooperate with the police in solving the case.
“If you witnessed any persons here, please get in contact with Princes Town police, Help us bring justice to this institution and members of the community by helping us identify the individuals who did this,” she appealed.
Addressing the vandals, she said: “The message: pray for yourself because you are desecrating a religious institution. You have desecrated this temple, and you have desecrated your family for generations to come. Pray for yourself and your generations forward.”
Pooran Nanan, the assistant secretary, told the media house that the vandals arrived at the temple compound in a green Mitsubishi Lancer. He said initially, the noises generated by the destructive act were mistaken for construction sounds, but it was only on Sunday morning it became apparent that destruction was taking place within the sacred site. Nanan also noted that the burglar-proofing in front of the door was strangely absent on the night of the incident.