Dear Editor,

PLEASE permit me space in your newspaper to highlight an urgent matter which is of utmost importance to the residents of Strathspey and other areas, who are devout Hindus and worship at the Strathspey/Vishnu Mandir, located at Lot 1 Strathspey, East Coast Demerara.As an (alleged) past president of the mandir, I am calling on all members of the public to denounce the actions of the two Hindu priests and their family-related Committee of Management members, who have (allegedly) brought shame on our religion through their (allegedly) unethical practices and closed-door operations at the temple.

Let me highlight some of the (alleged) atrocities committed by the president and the priests and their committee:

(1) All the members of the present Committee of Management are family members who (allegedly) were handpicked at a secret meeting held on May 3, 2015. The election (allegedly) was not free and transparent, and records are (allegedly) not kept and are never audited, even though large amounts of donations are (allegedly) pouring in from both overseas and local sources.

(2) On December 13, 2015, at a special meeting held in the compound of the temple, a decision was (allegedly) taken not to interfere with the wooden temple, yet the two priests and others (allegedly) went ahead and demolished the structure, the materials of which are at the president/priest’s residence. This has (allegedly) caused a division between the membership, and presently there are two groups, one of which is (allegedly) not permitted to enter the temple due to insults and other forms of ridicule.

(3) On 2013-12-05, the mandir was registered under the Friendly Societies Act, Chapter 36:04, but members were notified. However, the priests and president have (allegedly) disregarded that registration and had it registered under the Deeds Registry System, (allegedly) without the knowledge of members.

(4) The Ministry of Social Protection intervened in 2016, but, to date, things are at a stalemate. The Registrar (apparently) seems incompetent to find a solution to this dilemma, thus causing the priests and others to (allegedly) violate the Constitution, which they later (allegedly) designed to benefit their own agenda. Presently, there are three rubber stamps which are used to solicit public funds. A copy is attached.

Mr. Editor, I would appreciate if the public at large, the Hindu community and the diaspora can be informed through your newspaper of the (alleged) corruption that prevails. Persons are even buying cars. The president/priest, who runs a murti shop in the compound, was (allegedly) once stopped by the Buxton/Foulis NDC; his business is still functioning.
ANONYMOUS