Devant Maharaj
Encyclopedia
Devant Maharaj is a Trinidad and Tobago
politician. He is a member of the United National Congress
. On June 27, 2011 he became a member of the Senate of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Minister of Transport following his appointment as Chairman of the Public Transport Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. Maharaj is a member of the People's Partnership Government
led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
. Maharaj is also a well known perceived racist in his native homeland and has been involved in various controversies regarding prejudices against groups of people.
writer, cultural, social and political activist whose ancestors came from Uttar Pradesh
, India
in the 1870s to work on the sugar plantations of Trinidad and Tobago
as indentured servants. Devant Maharaj is an Executive Member of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
Inc. (SDMS) - the largest Hindu
body in Trinidad and Tobago and as such has been primarily associated with Indian and Hindu
activity associated with the SDMS led by Satnarayan Maharaj
. He was the youngest member of the SDMS when he was appointed in 1996.In 2000 he made a handsome son named Savitur Maharaj.
In 1996 Devant along with the Trinidad Express Columnist Kamal Persad began the first Indian oriented radio talk show in Trinidad called "The Hindu View Point" which ran for 2 years on 91.1 FM. This was the forerunner to many Indian talk shows that later evolved on the island nation.
Maharaj was subsequently a weekly columnist with the Trinidad Newsday from 1997-2005 but he has also been published in the Trinidad Guardian. A prolific writer on Indo-Caribbean issues Maharaj has also been published in several regional and international newspapers including The Jamaica Gleaner, The Barbados Nation, The St. Lucia Star, India Post, Asian Age, BJP Today, Hinduism Today, Indian Express, India Abroad, to name a few.
In 2002 Maharaj was appointed the SDMS Delegate to the Inter-Religious Organization (IRO) of Trinidad & Tobago and was again the youngest member of the IRO. The Inter Religious Organization formed in the 1970s brings all major religious groupings on the island for regular discussions so to build greater religious understanding. Maharaj held this position in the IRO until 2006.
In 2005 Maharaj was appointed by the SDMS as Chairman of the Indian Caribbean Museum of Trinidad and Tobago
. Located in Waterloo, Carapichaima, this body was established to collect artifacts on the Indo-Trinidadian presence in Trinidad and Tobago. The Museum has since grown attracting visitors locally and internationally.
In August 2006 left the public service to assume the position of Chief Executive Officer of SDMS’s Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM
. It is the only Hindu Radio Station in the Western Hemisphere. Maharaj has presented many papers at a variety of forums on Indian and Hindu issues within Trinidad & Tobago. Maharaj is also the co-editor of the book "Hostile & Recalcitrant" and has also self published booklets titled "The Persistence of the Indian Identity" and "Clash of Cultures: Indian African Clash".
In November 2007 Devant Maharaj unsuccessfully contested the Couva South constituency for the newly formed Congress of the People
led by Winston Dookeran
in the General Elections.
With GOPIO Maharaj launched a National Awards in 2004 to protest the State’s National Awards in particular the Trinity Cross
which awarded annually and was seen as biased against Indians and non-Christians. The GOPIO National Awards placed additional pressure on the Government to eventually declare that it would fundamentally change the State awards.
In 2005 GOPIO was successful in court when it took the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad & Tobago for failing to investigate claims that certain radio stations were making anti-Indian and anti-Hindu statements. The TATT was forced to investigate GOPIO allegations.
In 2004 GOPIO revealed a study it conducted regarding the crime of Kidnapping that was prevalent in Trinidad & Tobago. The study provided for the first time, empirical evidence that Indo-Trinidadians were the primary targets of kidnappers. The study forced the Minister of National Security to take immediate action.
When Maharaj decided to enter into politics GOPIO International publicly requested his resignation as President of GOPIO Trinidad. Maharaj cited other active politicians such as Ramesh Maharaj
, who held office with GOPIO and refused to acquiesce with the International body’s request. Maharaj and the entire Trinidad Chapter Executive threatened to resign if Maharaj was made to resign. The International body backed down from this demand however in early 2008 the international body launched another chapter in Trinidad. Maharaj eventually in 2008 formed the Indo-Trinbago Equality Council [ITEC] abandoning GOPIO.
Due to Maharaj's Indian activism he has faced numerous challenges from the State and has had to go to court on numerous occasions as a result. In 2002 the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning
, vetoed his promotion. Maharaj was the most senior officer for the position of Deputy Director, he topped the appointment interview, and was recommended for the position by the independent Statutory Authorities Service Commission [SASC]. The Commission however sought the concurrence of the Prime Minister – a 35 year old practice. Maharaj as a result took government to court and as a result the 35 year practice of Prime Ministerial veto was deemed illegal and brought to an immediate end.
Following this victory the challenges at the NLCB intensified for Maharaj and he had to seek refuge in the courts again and again each time contesting issues that impacted upon all public officers of Trinidad & Tobago.
In 2005 Maharaj sought information from the SASC using the Freedom of Information
Act about promotions at the NLCB. The SASC responded to Maharaj but via his employers, the NLCB. Maharaj challenged this shunting of responses via a third party that he suspected was working against his professional career. The courts again ruled that Maharaj right to information requested by public officers should not go through a third party and also that he was unfairly treated by the State in the manner and way in which it made promotions. The judgment was critical of political appointee’s interference of public officers in promotions and their career development.
In 1999 Trinidad and Tobago introduced the Freedom of Information Act to open the records of Government to the citizens. Maharaj was a “citizen trailblazer” in pioneering the use of the Freedom of Information Act in requesting information from the State. In several instances State agencies and Government Ministries refused to provide Maharaj the information requested citing various reasons. Maharaj as a result sought Judicial Review
on the state’s decision not to provide the information. In all instances Maharaj’s legal challenge was successful. The successful use of the Freedom of Information Act by Maharaj has resulted in several forms of administrative reactions by the State including making the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago
exempt from the Freedom of Information Act with retroactive legislation. Maharaj’s attorney in all of his legal challenges was Constitutional Rights attorney at law Anand Ramlogan
. In several cases Ramlogan was led by former Attorney General
of Guyana
Sir Fenton Ramsahoye
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
politician. He is a member of the United National Congress
United National Congress
The United National Congress is one of the two major political parties in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and one of the parties in the current ruling coalition. It was founded by Basdeo Panday, a lawyer and former trade unionist. The UNC was formed as the result of a split in the ruling...
. On June 27, 2011 he became a member of the Senate of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Minister of Transport following his appointment as Chairman of the Public Transport Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. Maharaj is a member of the People's Partnership Government
led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the seventh person to hold this position...
. Maharaj is also a well known perceived racist in his native homeland and has been involved in various controversies regarding prejudices against groups of people.
Background
Maharaj background includes Indo-TrinidadianIndo-Trinidadian
Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago of Indian or other South Asian ancestry.Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians has now become interchangeable with Indians or East Indians. These were people who were taken from India by the British either as workers or educated...
writer, cultural, social and political activist whose ancestors came from Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the 1870s to work on the sugar plantations of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
as indentured servants. Devant Maharaj is an Executive Member of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha is the major Hindu organisation in Trinidad and Tobago. It operates 150 mandirs and over 50 schools. It was formed in 1952 when Bhadase Sagan Maraj engineered the merger of the Satanan Dharma Association and the Sanatan Dharma Board of Control. An affiliated group,...
Inc. (SDMS) - the largest Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
body in Trinidad and Tobago and as such has been primarily associated with Indian and Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
activity associated with the SDMS led by Satnarayan Maharaj
Satnarayan Maharaj
Satnarayan Maharaj Chaconia Medal is a religious, cultural and political leader in Trinidad and Tobago. He is the Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, the major Hindu organisation in Trinidad and Tobago. He also writes op-ed contributions in many newspapers in Trinidad and Tobago...
. He was the youngest member of the SDMS when he was appointed in 1996.In 2000 he made a handsome son named Savitur Maharaj.
In 1996 Devant along with the Trinidad Express Columnist Kamal Persad began the first Indian oriented radio talk show in Trinidad called "The Hindu View Point" which ran for 2 years on 91.1 FM. This was the forerunner to many Indian talk shows that later evolved on the island nation.
Maharaj was subsequently a weekly columnist with the Trinidad Newsday from 1997-2005 but he has also been published in the Trinidad Guardian. A prolific writer on Indo-Caribbean issues Maharaj has also been published in several regional and international newspapers including The Jamaica Gleaner, The Barbados Nation, The St. Lucia Star, India Post, Asian Age, BJP Today, Hinduism Today, Indian Express, India Abroad, to name a few.
In 2002 Maharaj was appointed the SDMS Delegate to the Inter-Religious Organization (IRO) of Trinidad & Tobago and was again the youngest member of the IRO. The Inter Religious Organization formed in the 1970s brings all major religious groupings on the island for regular discussions so to build greater religious understanding. Maharaj held this position in the IRO until 2006.
In 2005 Maharaj was appointed by the SDMS as Chairman of the Indian Caribbean Museum of Trinidad and Tobago
Indian Caribbean Museum of Trinidad and Tobago
The Indian Caribbean Museum of Trinidad and Tobago, founded in 2006, is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of Indo-Caribbeans. The museum is located near the Temple in the Sea at Waterloo , Trinidad. The museum is the only one of its kind in the Caribbean.-External links:...
. Located in Waterloo, Carapichaima, this body was established to collect artifacts on the Indo-Trinidadian presence in Trinidad and Tobago. The Museum has since grown attracting visitors locally and internationally.
In August 2006 left the public service to assume the position of Chief Executive Officer of SDMS’s Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM
Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM
Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM is a 24 hour radio station in Trinidad and Tobago formed by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha to address the needs of the Hindu Community in the media.It is the only Hindu Station in the Western Hemisphere...
. It is the only Hindu Radio Station in the Western Hemisphere. Maharaj has presented many papers at a variety of forums on Indian and Hindu issues within Trinidad & Tobago. Maharaj is also the co-editor of the book "Hostile & Recalcitrant" and has also self published booklets titled "The Persistence of the Indian Identity" and "Clash of Cultures: Indian African Clash".
In November 2007 Devant Maharaj unsuccessfully contested the Couva South constituency for the newly formed Congress of the People
Congress of the People
The Congress of the People met in Kliptown, Soweto, Johannesburg on June 26, 1955 to lay out the vision of the South African people. The Freedom Charter was the core statement of principles of the Congress Alliance, consisting of the African National Congress , the South African Indian Congress,...
led by Winston Dookeran
Winston Dookeran
Winston Dookeran is a Trinidad and Tobago politician and economist. He currently serves as Political Leader of the Congress of the People. His term ends on July 3, 2011 when internal elections will be held to select a political leader. At a press conference on May 28, 2011, Mr. Dookeran...
in the General Elections.
Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin
In 2002 Maharaj was appointed President of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin Chapter by the International parent body. Since that time GOPIO Trinidad has become a virtual household name as the organization challenged issues of discrimination.With GOPIO Maharaj launched a National Awards in 2004 to protest the State’s National Awards in particular the Trinity Cross
Trinity Cross
The Trinity Cross was the highest of the National Awards of Trinidad and Tobago, between the years 1969– 2008. It was awarded for: distinguished and outstanding service to Trinidad and Tobago...
which awarded annually and was seen as biased against Indians and non-Christians. The GOPIO National Awards placed additional pressure on the Government to eventually declare that it would fundamentally change the State awards.
In 2005 GOPIO was successful in court when it took the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad & Tobago for failing to investigate claims that certain radio stations were making anti-Indian and anti-Hindu statements. The TATT was forced to investigate GOPIO allegations.
In 2004 GOPIO revealed a study it conducted regarding the crime of Kidnapping that was prevalent in Trinidad & Tobago. The study provided for the first time, empirical evidence that Indo-Trinidadians were the primary targets of kidnappers. The study forced the Minister of National Security to take immediate action.
When Maharaj decided to enter into politics GOPIO International publicly requested his resignation as President of GOPIO Trinidad. Maharaj cited other active politicians such as Ramesh Maharaj
Ramesh Maharaj
-Early life:Mr. Maharaj had over 30 years experience in the legal profession having been admitted to practice at the English Bar in 1967. He had been in private practice as Senior Partner in the chambers of Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Company. He had also been admitted to practice as an attorney...
, who held office with GOPIO and refused to acquiesce with the International body’s request. Maharaj and the entire Trinidad Chapter Executive threatened to resign if Maharaj was made to resign. The International body backed down from this demand however in early 2008 the international body launched another chapter in Trinidad. Maharaj eventually in 2008 formed the Indo-Trinbago Equality Council [ITEC] abandoning GOPIO.
Legal challenges
Professionally Devant Maharaj was the Marketing & Public Relations Officer of the National Lotteries Control Board of Trinidad & Tobago from 1993 to 2004, and Deputy Director, and NLCB since 2004.Due to Maharaj's Indian activism he has faced numerous challenges from the State and has had to go to court on numerous occasions as a result. In 2002 the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning
Patrick Manning
Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning was the fourth and sixth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the former Political Leader of the People's National Movement . He served as Prime Minister from 17 December 1991 to 9 November 1995 and held that office again from 24 December 2001 until 26...
, vetoed his promotion. Maharaj was the most senior officer for the position of Deputy Director, he topped the appointment interview, and was recommended for the position by the independent Statutory Authorities Service Commission [SASC]. The Commission however sought the concurrence of the Prime Minister – a 35 year old practice. Maharaj as a result took government to court and as a result the 35 year practice of Prime Ministerial veto was deemed illegal and brought to an immediate end.
Following this victory the challenges at the NLCB intensified for Maharaj and he had to seek refuge in the courts again and again each time contesting issues that impacted upon all public officers of Trinidad & Tobago.
In 2005 Maharaj sought information from the SASC using the Freedom of Information
Freedom of information
Freedom of information refers to the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the Internet and information technology . Freedom of information may also concern censorship in an information technology context, i.e...
Act about promotions at the NLCB. The SASC responded to Maharaj but via his employers, the NLCB. Maharaj challenged this shunting of responses via a third party that he suspected was working against his professional career. The courts again ruled that Maharaj right to information requested by public officers should not go through a third party and also that he was unfairly treated by the State in the manner and way in which it made promotions. The judgment was critical of political appointee’s interference of public officers in promotions and their career development.
In 1999 Trinidad and Tobago introduced the Freedom of Information Act to open the records of Government to the citizens. Maharaj was a “citizen trailblazer” in pioneering the use of the Freedom of Information Act in requesting information from the State. In several instances State agencies and Government Ministries refused to provide Maharaj the information requested citing various reasons. Maharaj as a result sought Judicial Review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
on the state’s decision not to provide the information. In all instances Maharaj’s legal challenge was successful. The successful use of the Freedom of Information Act by Maharaj has resulted in several forms of administrative reactions by the State including making the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago
Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago is the central bank of Trinidad and Tobago.The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago is located in the Eric Williams Financial Complex. The complex consists of the central bank auditorium and two sky-scrapers, locally known as the twin towers...
exempt from the Freedom of Information Act with retroactive legislation. Maharaj’s attorney in all of his legal challenges was Constitutional Rights attorney at law Anand Ramlogan
Anand Ramlogan
Anand Ramlogan is a human rights attorney-at-law in Trinidad, and the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago.. He is married to His Trinidadian Wife Nalini Ramlogan and has two kids, he is a graduate of Queen Mary and Westfield College in the University of London and University of Westminster...
. In several cases Ramlogan was led by former Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
Sir Fenton Ramsahoye