Jam at all Muslim in...

Inside Jamaat al Muslimeen compound at Mucurapo Road
Photo courtesy: newsday.co.tt

The Jamaat al Muslimeen organization is challenging The Educational Concordat of 1960 which assures "for the Preservation and Character of Denominational Schools." 

The issue of funding for the Jamaat al Muslimeen's Islamic Educational Complex which was established in 1978 was raised by Muslimeen member Lorris Ballck on Tuesday 31st January 2012 during the Commission of Enquiry into the July 1990 attempted coup by the Jamaat. He was lamenting the fact that he had to raise some $100,000 to pay teachers.

They subsequently held a protest on February 6th in front of the Education Ministry. Education Minister , Tim Gopeesingh met with them and promised to take a note to Cabinet this week to determine whether the school could become a denominational one. He said retroactive payment will be made to the institution’s teachers from September 2011.

However the bone of contention over the years that prevented funding from happening is the lands on which the compound sits. The state is contending that the lands belong to them; however the Jamaat has occupied the lands since 1985. In actuality, the organisation really has no legal documentation of title to the land. According to a Newsday article, "the land has been the centre of controversy with the Jamaat claiming successive governments have promised to hand over title. At one stage, former PNM prime minister Patrick Manning reportedly struck a deal to transfer the land and announced it on national television, only to back-track after voices within the PNM expressed strong objection. The Jamaat have also said former UNC politician Ramesh Maharaj promised the land, a claim which has been hotly denied. The group have also claimed that the land was transferred to them via regional corporation bodies."

One thing that is clear is that this group has been victimised pre-1990. Post 1990? They should not complain. By religious or state law they should have all been executed - the penalty for treason. If this was a Muslim state, those same people crying victimisation would have been the ones to pull the hangman's noose.

Other persons have weighed in on this issue. “Former Education Minister Dr Adesh Nanan said during his time in office discussions were held about making the Mucurapo school denominational. “Curriculum officers were sent to the Jamaat school to ensure they were following the ministry’s curriculum and guidelines. There was a criteria for funding, but it seems they did not meet that criteria because they were denied funding,” Nanan said. He was in full support of Minister Tim Gopeesingh’s approach."

Personally I believe it is because of the legacy and horrors of 1990 that post-1990 governments have been reluctant to include this religious sect under The Educational Concordat of 1960. No government wants to lose an election.

Sources and further readings

http://www2.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/Legislation/TheConcordatof1960/tabid/302/Default.aspx

http://www.ctntworld.com/LocalArticles.aspx?id=37958

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Enquiry_cut_short_over__distressed__witness-138452169.html

http://m.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-02-09/asja-mulls-jamaat-under-concordat

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-02-06/tim-considers-making-jamaat-school-denominational