The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago is pleading with the Spiritual Shouter Baptist community to assist in putting an end to the menace of crime and violence.
“I want to say to you, the Spiritual Baptists, as I call out to parents across the nation, to try and break the cycle of what is happening now by paying attention to raising your children. If there is anything you can teach the people of Trinidad and Tobago, you the Spiritual Baptist, you can teach the people how to raise their children with moral and spiritual values.”
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During the PNM Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day Celebrations at Balisier House in Port of Spain, he stated that since he was one of the greatest examples of overcoming obstacles, people should be encouraged to take personal responsibility for changing their circumstances and encouraging young people to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them.
According to PM Rowley, up to the removal of the religion’s prohibition in 1951, the Spiritual Baptists were subjected to state persecution. Thus, it was appropriate that the State fulfilled its 2020 pledge to provide them with government support so they might better themselves to settle their debt.
He stated that land in Balmain, Couva, and a $20 million gift were intended to constitute the support. According to him, the reason they received just half of the funds was that their differences made it appear improbable that they would be able to form an institutional framework.
“The Cabinet said we will give you assistance of $10 million and some land in Balmain and see what you will do with it. I’m pleased to receive the invitation today to come down and officiate in opening a structure because you have built the headquarters in Balmain.”
In addition to having designs for a cathedral drawn up, he claimed the Spiritual Baptists also acquired ten acres of property at Rivulet Road, Couva, for a memorial site, and they constructed a headquarters and parking lot in Balmain. The government was willing to assist them more consequently.
“It is the first time I have heard from a patriarch that the Spiritual Baptists are not scattered all over the place because they want to be leaders in every community but because they want to be evangelists in every community…I intend to ask the Cabinet, at the next session, having got confirmation that you have made full use of the first half, to get you the second half.”
To discover a means to better the lives of its citizens, he also noted that Caricom was holding another meeting on Saturday to discuss the situation in Haiti.
He said that the oppression of the Haitians was similar to that of the Spiritual Baptists, with the exception that the former were slaves who battled for their liberation using iron and blood.
However, they were forced to make restitution to their oppressors rather than receive aid.
