Former Mayor of Georgetown, Pt. Ubraj Narine, has raised strong objections to the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) designation of Mandirs as polling stations for the upcoming elections, calling the move a desecration of sacred Hindu spaces.
In a public statement, Narine, who is Pandit, said he is “deeply concerned” that places of worship dedicated to the service of Bhagwan, the practice of Sanatan Dharma, and the spiritual upliftment of devotees are being repurposed for political and administrative activities.
“A Mandir is not to be used for political or administrative purposes, regardless of the occasion. By turning these sacred spaces into polling stations, our Mandirs are being desecrated and disrespected,” Narine declared. He also questioned whether Pandits and members of the Hindu community fully recognise the true and divine meaning of a Mandir.
He stressed that Hindus must “stand firm in protecting the sanctity of our dharmic institutions,” warning that allowing such practices compromises religious values and sets “a dangerous precedent.”
Narine called on GECOM to immediately desist from using Mandirs as polling stations and urged Pandits along with Hindu organisations to take a principled stand against what he described as a violation. “Our Mandirs are temples of prayer, devotion, and dharmic service—not centers for political activity,” he emphasised.
Pt. Ubraj Narine, a Justice of the Peace and former Staff Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force, served as Mayor of Georgetown before demitting office.
