The Hindu community is better prepared for preacher Benny Hinn’s visit to Trinidad and any attack on us as he did on his last visit in 1999.

We have written the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security about a possible fall-out from Hinn’s visit.

This foreign preacher is on record as painting a negative picture of T&T and has in the past disrupted religious peace in our land.

He is therefore not entitled to an automatic missionary permit and we have so informed both Mr Manning and Mr Joseph. All correspondence and material including a six-hour DVD have also been forwarded to President George Maxwell Richards for his information.

We wrote Martin Joseph:

The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Inc of T&T wishes to formally object to the planned visit by Benny Hinn to Trinidad on May 19-21 and request that the Ministry of National Security revoke/disallow the visa allowing Benny Hinn entry to the Republic of T&T.

In 1999 the preacher Benny Hinn visited T&T. The headline that followed his sermon was “Hindu voodoo land,” Trinidad Guardian, by Donna Pierre.

The American televangelist said he cast out more devils in T&T during his recent visit than he has ever done in a long time.

Hinn made this statement in an interview on the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) in the US.

The televangelist stated he converted mostly Hindus, which he said make up 30 per cent of the population, during his crusade. Asked by the interviewer if there was a lot of voodoo in this country, Hinn said, “Oh I think so.”

During the interview, the pastor showed a clip where he healed a Hindu man who was said to have been unable to walk on his own before meeting Hinn. The man who was allegedly healed by Hinn died a few days later at the San Fernando General Hospital (see newspaper clippings).

The Hindu community was clearly the target of Benny Hinn. We were caught by surprise with the Benny Hinn visit of 1999 but now we have been given advanced warning of his visit to Trinidad on May 19-21, and the Maha Sabha objects to his presence.

Ministry Watch, a Christian group in the US, in its donor alert of May 2005, recommended that donors withhold giving to Benny Hinn Ministries.

Ministry Watch.com called upon donors to prayerfully consider withholding contributions to Benny Hinn Ministries/World Outreach Church (BHM) in response to facts and allegations regarding reports on Hinn.

These facts were aired in March on NBC Dateline—coupled with Ministry Watch.com’s previously stated concerns about Hinn espousing the self-serving “prosperity theology” message.

The Maha Sabha has an extensive collection of documents including a six-hour DVD that seriously questions Benny Hinn and his operations as a genuine man of God. The SDMS concludes that the visit of Benny Hinn will not be to the benefit of the people of T&T but will serve to create division among our various religious groups.

Mr Joseph replied on April 10:

“I must let you know that your observations and concerns have been duly noted and I have already communicated same to the chairman of the local organising committee of the crusade for his information.

“The foregoing notwithstanding, you will appreciate, Sir, the position of the Government of T&T in matters of this nature, which is one of commitment to upholding the freedom of conscience and religious beliefs and observations of its citizens as enshrined in the Constitution of T&T.

“In this regard, as Minister of National Security, I am regrettably not in a position to debar Pastor Hinn’s entry into T&T, for the stated purpose, and moreso, having regard to the Provisions of the Immigration (Amendment) Regulations of 1996, which provides for unrestricted entry into T&T of persons wishing to engage in, inter alia, missionary/evangelistic activity for one period not exceeding 30 days in every 12 consecutive months.”

Freedom of conscience and religious beliefs and observations do not provide a right to any foreigner to enter our country and condemn the religious beliefs and observations of citizens of T&T.

SATNARAYAN MAHARAJ is the Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha