Lead Editor-Politics
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has ridiculed Blue Waters’ sponsorship of this year’s Divali Nagar celebrations, accusing the company’s owners of privately using racial slurs against East Indian people while publicly funding one of the country’s largest Indian cultural and religious celebrations.
The Prime Minister also claimed that National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) president Surujdeo Mangaroo had been duped into hosting what she described as a “public relations exercise” to announce the company’s Diamond Sponsorship.
In a pointed response to questions from Guardian Media yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said she found the sponsorship arrangement amusing, given the recent history between her Government and Blue Waters owner Dominic Hadeed and his wife Genevieve.
“I find the irony of that sponsorship hilarious. On one hand, the Hadeeds refer to us as stinking c*****s in private and on the other hand they are publicly sponsoring the stinking c****e religious events.”
The derogatory term was allegedly used by Genevieve’s aunt, Star Sabga, in an intercepted communication between the relatives that led to their detentions during the recent State of Emergency (SoE). The Hadeeds were the first to be detained, followed by Sabga.
The Prime Minister continued, “I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw the sponsorship and that Mangaroo was actually duped into hosting a public relations press conference to accept it. Anyways, I hope they have a wonderful event.”
Her comments follow yesterday’s announcement that Blue Waters had increased its financial commitment to Divali Nagar, becoming an official Diamond Sponsor amid the withdrawal of sponsorship by several State-linked companies.
The development has attracted particular attention because of the recent confrontation between the Hadeeds and the State.
The Hadeeds were arrested on June 24 under State of Emergency regulations in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and other senior Government officials. Sabga was detained the next day.
The Hadeeds were released on July 23 after Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander revoked their PDOs, having spent nearly a month in detention without being charged. The Hadeeds have denied the allegations surrounding the alleged assassination plot and previously maintained that their detention was politically motivated.
Sabga was released from detention at the Women’s Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca, on July 27 but placed under immediate house arrest following a ruling by Justice Vigel Paul. Her detention order was also later revoked and she was released from house arrest on September 10, shortly before the SoE ended.
PM: Taxpayers’ money
Beyond her criticism of the Blue Waters arrangement, Persad-Bissessar also defended the withdrawal of State sponsorship from Divali Nagar, insisting that taxpayers’ money should be directed towards the needs of citizens rather than private events.
Asked whether the NCIC, as a private organisation, should be less dependent on State funding, the Prime Minister said event organisers should secure the necessary financing before proceeding with their activities.
“Taxpayer money is to be used for paying hardworking people their wages, buying medicines, paying pensions etc. It’s not to be used to sponsor private events and groups while hardworking people are waiting for their salary increases and backpay. That is my first priority.”
Among the entities no longer providing sponsorship are bmobile, First Citizens Bank and National Flour Mills, while the National Lotteries Control Board and Caribbean Airlines are also no longer participating.
The withdrawals have raised concerns about the financial sustainability of the nine-night event, which Mangaroo previously estimated would cost approximately $5 million to stage.
The NCIC had appealed for Government assistance, having received $500,000 towards last year’s celebrations.
The Prime Minister also argued that other cultural and national celebrations had similarly experienced reductions in State sponsorship.
“There must be fairness. Previously state companies cut funding for steelbands, fetes, tassa, and carnival events,” she said.
“There was even a reduction in funding for Baptist day, Independence and Emancipation events. It is only right that they also reduce funding for Divali events because everyone must be treated with the same fairness.”
Her position follows Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath’s justification that State resources could provide greater value if redirected towards smaller, community-based Divali celebrations rather than concentrated on one major event.
Despite wishing the NCIC well with its celebrations, Persad-Bissessar has not committed to attending this year’s Divali Nagar.
Asked directly whether she would attend, the Prime Minister cited a demanding schedule, including Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings in Antigua and other commitments.
“I didn’t schedule any confirmed attendance as yet because that week is a hectic schedule with CHOGM in Antigua and some other events.”
Divali Nagar 2026 is scheduled to run from October 30 to November 7 at the NCIC Nagar in Chaguanas.
Hadeeds’ lawyer
rejects PM’ allegations
Faris Al-Rawi, SC, one of the attorneys representing Dominic and Genevieve Hadeed, has categorically rejected Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s allegation that the couple privately used racial slurs against East Indian people.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s comments about Blue Waters’ sponsorship of Divali Nagar, Al-Rawi said he was mindful of ongoing litigation involving the couple.
He said he would therefore confine his response to the “simple fact that the Hadeeds have never used the racist phrase which the Prime Minister is said to have attributed to them.”
Al-Rawi also defended the company’s involvement in the religious and cultural celebrations.
“For the record, I confirm that Blue Waters has been a sponsor to the Divali Nagar event for many years and was pleased to provide more support this year as requested by the NCIC.”
He added that Blue Waters remained committed to supporting charitable, philanthropic, sporting and religious organisations as part of its corporate and civic responsibilities.
