‘All nationals must denounce Sat Maharaj’s hateful rhetoric!’ Devant distances himself from Sat


“All nationals must denounce Sat Maharaj’s hateful rhetoric. The Constitutional Right to freedom of speech is not just a right. It’s also a responsibility.

“We have a duty to speak out against evil, hateful beliefs through free speech of our own that advances our shared value of equality.”

The following Letter to the Editor on Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Secretary General Sat Maharaj’s verbal assault on Tobagonians was submitted by former SDMS Assistant Secretary General and UNC politician Devant Maharaj:

Photo: SDMS Secretary Sat Maharaj gesticulates.
(Copyright Power 102)

As a former Executive Member of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Inc (SDMS) holding the position of Assistant Secretary General (Public Relations), The SDMS Inter-Religious Organization Delegate, and the first Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Radio Jaagriti, I categorically condemn the vulgar statements of the SDMS Secretary General, Sat Maharaj, regarding the people of Tobago.


Mr Maharaj used the broadest of brushes to paint all Tobagonians in the most derogatory fashion is repugnant to all that we hold dear as Trinbagonians. Having fought against social inequality and injustice all my life I cannot now in good conscience remain silent on an issue such as this.

All nationals must denounce Sat Maharaj’s hateful rhetoric. The Constitutional Right to freedom of speech is not just a right. It’s also a responsibility. We have a duty to speak out against evil, hateful beliefs through free speech of our own that advances our shared value of equality. The struggle against hate will only be won through education and public understanding.

It is interesting that the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, THA Chief Secretary, THA Minority Leader, Tobago Forwards Political Leader and Pundit Satyanand Maharaj have been the only national voices condemning the statements of Sat Maharaj. The Inter-Religious Organization, Chambers of Commerce, Trade Unions as well as the many other Hindu Organizations have been reticent on the issue. Where are the other voices?

Sadly, I have spoken with some individuals in Trinidad as well as Tobago of all religious and ethnic persuasions who have expressed support for Mr Maharaj and cannot see the offensive nature of the comments.

Photo: Tobago Heritage Dance Performers strut their stuff at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet during the 2015 Legends Football tournament.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

While I like others wish that Mr Sat Maharaj exhibit some contrition for his statement, I expect that all that have condemned these statements will be further attacked by Mr Maharaj on his media house instead.

More from Wired868
Brinsley Samaroo: A Historian of the People who saw potential all around him

I first met UWI Professor Emeritus Dr Brinsley Samaroo many years ago on a radio programme, where I brought up Read more

Ford: Panday’s trying to rewrite history with “maliciously misconstrued misstatement” on Dr Williams

“[...] Dr Eric Williams was referring to people who preceded Basdeo Panday that were moving mountains to divide the country Read more

Dear Editor: The African legacy of Tobago’s Davidsons and Denoons

“[…] With a family tree consisting of thousands of relatives, this important aspect of our history—which was researched and confirmed Read more

Dear Editor: The problem ‘Trinbago’ doesn’t solve in expressing nationality for T&T

“[…] If Trinbago was really filling the need for a nationally unifying word, you would expect Tobagonians to be using Read more

Noble: Tobago’s evolving role in T&T’s politics, and why I’m as ‘Trinbagonian’ as Chambi Sey

I thank Wired868 for providing a forum for sensible discussion. I appreciate the engagement and contribution of its reader, Chambi Read more

Dear Editor: Mrs Robinson-Regis has nothing to apologise for; stop the victim blaming!

“[…] Mrs Camille Robinson-Regis, at the relevant political meeting, laid a series of charges against Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar. In so Read more

About Letters to the Editor

Want to share your thoughts with Wired868? Email us at editor@wired868.com. Please keep your letter between 300 to 600 words and be sure to read it over first for typos and punctuation. We don't publish anonymously unless there is a good reason, such as an obvious threat of harassment or job loss.

Check Also

Brinsley Samaroo: A Historian of the People who saw potential all around him

I first met UWI Professor Emeritus Dr Brinsley Samaroo many years ago on a radio …

29 comments

  1. Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith says, contrary to misleading reports, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service did not conduct any ‘raid’ of media house, Radio Jaagriti.

    READ: https://bit.ly/2KRdZch

  2. How old is Sat Maharaj? He sounds like someone’s out of date embarrassing uncle. He is out of touch with current laws around hate speech and shouldn’t be excused just because ‘he has always been that way’. The tv station needs to have a delay when he speaks to allow them to cut out speech that is inappropriate or suffer the consequences for breaching the rules. Politicians and police also need to set good examples and stop using derogatory and racist terms.

  3. The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) has received a report about ‘heavy-handed and unprofessional conduct’ of officers from Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) while on duty at Radio and TV Jaagriti.
    https://wired868.com/2019/04/19/matt-condemns-heavy-handed-and-unprofessional-ttps-conduct-in-raid-on-jaagriti-station/

  4. Why we making this creature relevant though

  5. Give Sat full credit..like a good entertainer he has certain audiences eating out of his hand/s all 8 of them..”Rah rah rah rah rah Sat this sat that’..Are we meeting Sat for the first time? Can Sat still shock us? What of Verna Toppin-Alleyne then? And Morgan the late Jobe? Do these charlatans really matter? Don’t we have more important things to do?

  6. 3. (1) A seditious intention is an intention—
    (a) to bring into hatred or contempt, or to excite
    disaffection against Government or the
    Constitution as by law established or the House
    of Representatives or the Senate or the
    administration of justice;
    (b) to excite any person to attempt, otherwise than
    by lawful means, to procure the alteration of any
    matter in the State by law established;
    (c) to raise discontent or disaffection amongst
    inhabitants of Trinidad and Tobago;
    (d) to engender or promote—
    (i) feelings of ill-will or hostility between one
    or more sections of the community on the
    one hand and any other section or sections
    of the community on the other hand; or
    (ii) feelings of ill-will towards, hostility to or
    contempt for any class of inhabitants of
    Trinidad and Tobago distinguished by race,
    colour, religion, profession, calling or
    employment; or

  7. Sat is a genius..Draws some again into a non sequitur..a regular diatribe that raises hackles and leaves Sat amused and in the news..The guy is good..Knows how to talk loud, say nothing ..and ruffle the unwise.

  8. Time for all hate speech to stop. It is no longer acceptable.

  9. While I strongly condemn Sat’s statements, I do believe it is a dangerous, albeit very convenient, application (abuse?) of the law.
    Media Association of Trinidad & Tobago
    United Nations Human Rights
    Transparency International
    @gary griffith

  10. Sat had been saying this since 2013 after the THA whitewash though? You telling me Devant and Kamla and TATT didn’t know about it? And I know because I listened his program for a few days.

  11. The former administration, knowing the hateful and divisive racial rhetoric of this individual still bestowed on him the Nation’s highest award as a reward for his behavior over the years.

  12. Deviant apologist to Muslims yet?

    Or to mixed race couples?

    He has a long history of saying as bad or worse against those not Hindu for which he has never taken responsibility. So forgive me if I take his rhetoric with more than a cup full of salt…

  13. I denounce Sat Maharaj…..period!!!!

  14. I denounce Sat Maharaj’s hateful rhetoric!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.