Government has declared July 29 as the date for the Eid-ul-Fitr public holiday. Public Utilities Minister Nizam Baksh announced the date during yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. The date came as a surprise to some Muslims as they expected the holiday to be granted one day earlier. Muslims began fasting on June 29 and that period usually lasts for 30 days.
Baksh said the decision was accepted by Cabinet and it was unanimous recommendation from many leading islamic organisations in the country, including the Trinidad Muslim League (TML), Anjuman Sunnat ul Jamaat Association (ASJA) and the Tackveeyatul Islamic Association (TIA) recommended the date. Baksh said the date was approved because it was not certain the new moon would be sighted on July 27 to allow for the holiday to be given on July 28. He said the leaders have said it would not have been appropriate to give the holiday before the likely date for the sighting of the moon.