Jack Warner promised on Wednesday to donate three months of his salary to the Spiritual Baptist Community for the construction of a their cathedral. That's more than $100,000.
The Works and Transport Minister and Chairman of the United National Congress made the pledge at a ceremony in St Augustine to mark the 60th anniversary of the repeal of the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance.
It was also the 15th anniversary of the inauguration of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day holiday, which was granted by the Panday UNC government.
Between 1917 and 1951 the Colonial Government in Trinidad and Tobago had banned the Spiritual and Shouter Baptist Faith from publicly ptractising their religion because they claimed that they "disturbed the peace" with their loud singing and bell ringing.
The penalty for breaching the law was arrest and imprisonment and members of the faith were often beaten by the authorities as well. The law was repealed in 1951.
Addressing the religious group, Warner said, "I was told by your Bishop that you are launching your Baptist Cathedral Fund. I want to start with a small gesture towards the fund and I want to pledge to you this morning that I will give to you $100,000 towards the fund."
He added, "It is no secret I have never drawn a month's salary as a Member of Parliament or as a Minister. It is no secret that every month my salary goes to Chaguanas West in a fund. I will pledge this morning to give three months salary towards your fund, so it will be a little more than $100,000," he added.
Warner also told the Baptists he was pleased to learn that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has kept her promise to build a Baptist school. And he made a promise of his own.
"I was pleased last week Friday when I heard the Prime Minister say in Parliament that she will give you your Baptist school in Maloney. It is time for us to deliver and as Minister of Works and Transport, I will give you the walkover from the school to Maloney," he said.
And he had one request. "I ask all of you to keep our beloved Prime Minister the honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar in your hearts and in your prayers so that she be given the strength to continue the work she has started to unite this country, to join us together and to free us from the divisiveness that is so often caused by race, by class and by religion."
He made reference to one hymn sung at the service - "Move Satan move, Let me pass" - and suggested that it is one that is most relevant today.
"Of late there are so many Satans in our midst. I think that is a hymn all of us should sing and know every day because if we move the Satans in our midst, this country shall be a better place for all of us."
The Works and Transport Minister and Chairman of the United National Congress made the pledge at a ceremony in St Augustine to mark the 60th anniversary of the repeal of the Shouters Prohibition Ordinance.
It was also the 15th anniversary of the inauguration of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day holiday, which was granted by the Panday UNC government.
Between 1917 and 1951 the Colonial Government in Trinidad and Tobago had banned the Spiritual and Shouter Baptist Faith from publicly ptractising their religion because they claimed that they "disturbed the peace" with their loud singing and bell ringing.
The penalty for breaching the law was arrest and imprisonment and members of the faith were often beaten by the authorities as well. The law was repealed in 1951.
Addressing the religious group, Warner said, "I was told by your Bishop that you are launching your Baptist Cathedral Fund. I want to start with a small gesture towards the fund and I want to pledge to you this morning that I will give to you $100,000 towards the fund."
He added, "It is no secret I have never drawn a month's salary as a Member of Parliament or as a Minister. It is no secret that every month my salary goes to Chaguanas West in a fund. I will pledge this morning to give three months salary towards your fund, so it will be a little more than $100,000," he added.
Warner also told the Baptists he was pleased to learn that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has kept her promise to build a Baptist school. And he made a promise of his own.
"I was pleased last week Friday when I heard the Prime Minister say in Parliament that she will give you your Baptist school in Maloney. It is time for us to deliver and as Minister of Works and Transport, I will give you the walkover from the school to Maloney," he said.
And he had one request. "I ask all of you to keep our beloved Prime Minister the honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar in your hearts and in your prayers so that she be given the strength to continue the work she has started to unite this country, to join us together and to free us from the divisiveness that is so often caused by race, by class and by religion."
He made reference to one hymn sung at the service - "Move Satan move, Let me pass" - and suggested that it is one that is most relevant today.
"Of late there are so many Satans in our midst. I think that is a hymn all of us should sing and know every day because if we move the Satans in our midst, this country shall be a better place for all of us."
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