As hundreds of impoverish citizens crowded the La Divina Pastora Church in Siparia hoping for alms yesterday, Fr Martin Sirjoo said politicians should visit the activities to see the inequity facing T&T, but also the interracial peace.
Overseeing the influx of devotees praying to the La Divina Pastora statue, Sirjoo said the country’s political culture was still divided along racial lines.
“I think it is a good place, not only to see the pockets of poverty or the representatives of the poor section of the population, but it is also an important corrective for the political culture,” Sirju said.
“The political culture still tends to be divided along racial lines. Many influential people have said that people are going to vote according to tribes. Already we are seeing those signs.
“That is sad because when it comes to La Divina Pastora, we have people, especially today, mainly Hindus, but also Baptists, Christians of other denominations and other pilgrims who passed through and they are able to function well. I think politics must be at the service of promoting that and not causing any division in society.”
He said Prime Minister Kamla-Persad-Bissessar usually attends the feast day, which is in three weeks, while former People’s National Movement senator Penelope Beckles-Robinson visited on Thursday night.
Agreeing with an address by former deputy Central Bank governor Terrence Farrell at Transparency International’s anti-corruption conference, he said the elites of T&T have not been taking sufficient care of the country. He said principled leadership was needed not only by politicians, but those who are influential to society.
“We need to have more principled leadership and I am not just talking about politics. I am talking about all departments, because the elites do not refer simply to politicians. It refers to people who have the power, who have the influence to say and there is still too much inequity in the country.
“Economically, something needs to be done about that by people who are far more qualified to reflect that than I am, so that much of the poverty we see can be alleviated. There are too many pockets of poverty in the country still. This (celebration) would be an example of that.”
Traditions still strong
Sirjoo said while the majority of people gathered at the La Divina Pastora Siparia Boys’ RC School were in search of charity, not all were genuine.
Nonetheless, he said Jesus taught that his followers should give to anybody who asked. He said whether pilgrims were conned or not, it was a blessing to them.
“It’s hard to make a judgment on it because we know for a fact that many of them are not really beggars. Some of them, they come dressed, they have their bags, some have the rolling suitcases and when they come, they dress the part, but some are genuinely beggars.
“I would say the majority strike me as sincere people in need, but some of course are smart men and smart women who take advantage of the opportunity.”
Several parents also embraced in the tradition of bringing their children to the festival for their first haircut.
For barber Sookhoo Bridgemohan, who turns 60 this month, it has been 39 years since he has been giving free haircuts at the celebration.
He said this charity was passed down by his forefathers and now his sons accompany him each year.
Ezekiel Bridgemohan, a nurse at the San Fernando General Hospital, explained: “Normally children would come to get their first haircut. The very first chipping is offered to Sipari Ki Mai (La Divina Pastora) and a prayer is normally said to her for protection of the child, for good health, wealth and prosperity throughout life.
After, they normally make a promise to Sipari Ki Mai to keep their child safe and they would bring back a piece of gold or silver.”
Rousillac mother Rishma Roopnarinesingh brought her sons, Vikash, two, and Varun, four, for haircuts. She said as Vikash is expected to enter preschool in September, she wanted his first cut to be special.
For other pilgrims, the wait to offer gifts to La Divina Pastora was long. Worshippers pay homage to the saint by offering cash, jewelry and money, but mostly oil and candles. They then make a prayer of request or thanksgiving and give a portion of the oil to the church. The oil is placed in vials for distribution during the feast day. The remaining oil is given back to the worshippers.