The man who gave the Spiritual Baptists a national holiday in 1996 urged the community Monday to stand firm in their determination to fight discrimination. And Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday told them to demand the establishment of an African Spiritual Park. Panday was speaking at Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day celebrations held by the Council of Elders of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith of Trinidad and Tobago at Maloney.
Panday said he is saddened to see that after 14 years and an expenditure of some $200 billion under the People's National Movement regime, there is no African Spiritual Park.
He said when his United National Congress was in office the government not only declared a holiday for the Baptists but it also gave the land to build the park. He said he was unable to accomplish the task because of the change of government.
"There is no African Spiritual Park. It is still a dream and I ask why? Where are the churches? Where are the cathedrals? Where are the schools?" he asked.
He said the Baptists must use the sword God has given them and demand an end to discrimination, noting that the country is today deeply divided and the discrimination is a threat to social order.It's no longer a "rainbow country" he said.
Panday told the elders they must demand change because prayer alone won't help.
"You can pray from now until thy kingdom come for God to come and take you from all of this, it will never go away until you decide to rise up and stand tall and remove with your own hands the yoke around your neck" he said.
"What happened to the fire in your belly? Have you lost it?" he asked.
Culture Minister Marlene McDonald delivered an address on behalf of Prime Minister Patrick Manning who is visiting Cuba. She promised that the Manning Government would ensure that the Baptist faith is recognised, adding that Baptists can rely on the Government for support.
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