By Sue-Ann Wayow
IF the current Covid-19 statistics escalate requiring further restrictions, the religious sanctity of certain rituals should not be compromised although the manner of conducting them may have to be adjusted.
This is according to Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West and legal advisor to the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Dinesh Rambally who said that public health and safety will have to be of paramount importance.
On Thursday, in a statement to the media with reference to Wednesday’s incident at the Caroni Cremation Site that required the intervention of Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein, Rambally admitted that funeral homes did not pay the necessary fees in a timely manner.
Giving further details of what transpired, he stated that the SDMS became involved and that there was no attack on any particular segment of society.
Bodies being cremated at the Caroni site usually are done under Hindu rites.
Rambally stated that under the Cremation Regulations, there were requirements for persons wishing to conduct funeral services and or the funeral homes to pay the requisite fee for accessing and utilising the cremation site as well as obtaining a permit from the police to construct a funeral pyre and to cremate human remains upon same. Breaches of these requirements under the Cremation Act as well as the Covid-19 Regulations and/or Emergency Regulations can amount to offences under law.
Rambally who was personally got involved by contacting key personnel including the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation said, “The information coming to hand from the Corporation was that the funeral homes had not complied with certain administrative steps required for the authorities to permit a cremation to take place at the site. At that moment in time, I received a picture of a receipt which showed that the fee was only paid on the day (Wednesday) itself. We are aware that the corporation’s fees are usually paid before the cremation date and the receipt is then produced to the police in order to obtain a permit to cremate.”
He added, “However, we did not form the view that anything occurring that morning was particularly unusual given that during this pandemic, work systems at public offices may have been adjusted slightly to accommodate 50% staffing and or rotation of staff. Furthermore, the SDMS had not had an opportunity to speak to any of the funeral homes up to that time. Our immediate concern was doing what was necessary so that cremations could go ahead on the day.”
After consultations, Rambally stated that of those who allegedly had not complied with the relevant steps, the corporation would allow funeral homes and bereaved families to pay the requisite fees and sort out any documentation after the cremations and consequently there was no need for the SDMS to take any further steps. SDMS had previously agreed to pay the fees.
Rambally said, “I can personally vouch that more hands were on deck than might be immediately apparent. I am happy to say that the eventual outcome demonstrated the laudable approach of tackling an issue in a completely humanitarian and non- partisan manner, all the while being mindful that traditional protocols and procedures must be respectfully observed.
“There was cooperation between the relevant authorities resulting in the avoidance of further inconvenience, hurt and financial sacrifice of the bereaved families. No doubt the families were rendered in a state of uncertainty and would have suffered tremendously. The Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation has promised to make documentation available so as to reveal the timing of payments made by the funeral homes.”
And the MP said, “I take the opportunity to thank all those persons and institutions concerned, named and unnamed, who have assisted in the speedy resolution of what could have been a deadly serious fiasco. Finally, on behalf of the SDMS I wish to express condolences to the families who lost loved ones and would have been engaged in performing the antyeshti sanskaar yesterday as well as the continuing shraadha rites at this time.”
