By Richardson Dhalai
May 19 2010 – newsday.co.tt
UNITED National Congress (UNC) leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday received the endorsement of two religious organisations, the Central Ministries Fellowship and the Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago, at two separate functions.
The first, which was held at Kampo Restaurant in Chaguanas at 11 am, was attended by ministers from several Full Gospel Churches which included Miracle Ministries pastor, Reverand Winston Cuffie, Faith Centre pastor and founder Bishop Carlyle Chankersingh and Full Gospel Businessmen International president, Trevor Joseph.
However, prior to praying for Persad-Bissessar, the evangelical organisations posed several questions to her including the party’s position on six issues — abortion; gender policy relating to same sex marriages; the broadcasting policy allowing the Church freedom of expression; the continuation of religious education in schools; the Church’s involvement in government social programmes and the Church’s input in governmental policy and representation. Persad-Bissessar thanked the Christian groups for allowing her the opportunity to meet to clear the air on what she described were “lies, half-truths and innuendoes” by those on the opposing side which have been calling on the UNC political leader to state her position on abortion.
Persad-Bissessar said she shared the views of the Church leaders that “life is sacred”, saying a People’s Partnership Administration did not have any intention of changing the laws of Trinidad and Tobago including that relating to marriages.
She recalled that while drafting the Equal Opportunities legislation, several groups had lobbied the UNC administration to include provision for same sex marriages but this was not included in the legislation.
“We did not include that in our equal opportunity legislation. We must be bound by the laws of Trinidad and Tobago as it stands on these issues and if it is that the law is to be changed then that is not a position of Kamla Persad-Bissessar or Jack Warner or any member of the People’s Partnership, that will have to be a decision of the people,” she said.
Persad-bissessar also reminded the Full Gospel ministers that it was a UNC Administration which had introduced a “faith- based and values-based education” into the school curriculum. “We had begun to put into place that the curriculum should be infused with values based education.
Regarding the construction of a church in Guanapo, she said, “I have no problem with a Church, I have no problem with assisting churches but it must be fair, it must be equitable and in everything that we do there must be transparency and accountability.”
“That issue I have raised about the Guanapo building has nothing to do with religion,” she asserted. “A nation that lives without God, is a nation that doesn’t have that faith and if its people don’t have that faith, they will surely perish,” she said.
Earlier, Reverend Sean Kangal, while posing his question to Persad-Bissessar pronounced that the organisation would be “voting for change,” saying the Born-Again Christian population comprised between 15 to 20 percent of the national population.
By 1.30 pm, Persad-Bissessar was having a media briefing with members of the Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago at UNC headquarters in Rienzi Complex, Couva. The group was led by chairman Imtiaz Mohammed, IBN founder Inshan Ishmael and Food Crop Farmers Association official Shiraz Mohammed.
Mohammed, reading from a prepared text said the movement had “united together with the People’s Partnership for the betterment of the people of our country.”
“It is time to change the political mind set of the electorate and by that I mean our people should not be voting on race but they must vote for a party which can deliver so their standard can rise,” Mohammed said. Persad-Bissessar thanked the Muslim organisation for its support and pledged her administration would end discrimination against all religious organisations.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,121039.html
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Religious bodies endorse Kamla
Kamla: T&T’s laws will guide abortion
She said her position on same-sex marriages remains the same as when the UNC passed equal opportunity legislation during its 1995 to 2001 tenure in office. Persad-Bissessar said a People’s Partnership Government would be guided by laws of T&T on the issues of abortion and capital punishment. She said if the law was to be changed concerning capital punishment and abortion it would come from a referendum of the people. “That is a democracy,” she added.
Check out her “pose” like the iconic photo of Obama! stupid and without merit.
you are stupid Mike Samuel go get some common sense
Lets us Pray together for this country. My Dear Lord, we thank you:
• for this beautiful country we live in, it is like no other place imaginable.
• for the abundant natural resources in our land and seas, let no man covets or waste.
• for the many foods that we eat, the air that we breath and the water that we so thirst for.
• for giving us this birth and the freedom so we can worship thee in any form desired.
• for our family and friends, our villages and towns, for without them life is so lonely.
• but most of all my Lord, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for listening to our prayers, by giving us this chance to put an end to our unbearable suffering. Amen.
Nath Raj
May 19, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Lets us Pray together for this country. My Dear Lord……..Quote
The UNC crowd now has resorted to Blasphemy………………….
Baptist Council of Elders support People’s Partnership
The Council of Elders Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith of Trinidad and Tobago has thrown their support behind the People’s Partnership.
‘No endorsements from Seventh Day Adventists’
Pastor Kern Tobias, president of the South Caribbean Conference of Seventh Day Adventist, said yesterday that his organisation did not and will not endorse any candidate for the May 24 general election.
PAWI: Not our policy to publicly endorse anybody
THE Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies (PAWI) has distanced itself from the endorsement of any political candidate in the upcoming general election.
It’s really nice when everyone comes together and give their support to a such a genuine woman. I have never seen so many people, especially religious organizations, support a politician in this way. Kamla has really proven she can unify our country. She’s intelligent, graceful and has a warm heart. I really hope she wins and put Patrick Satan Manning out of our lives forever.
Get real Kevin! Firstly the religious organizations reported in the newspaper that they did not endorse anyone. They prayed with her, as they would do for any other. Their words, not mine. Secondly, who can she unite? Where have you been for the past two weeks? I have never seen so much racial tension in our country in my entire life. Afro-Trinidadians being told that they will be ruled bt East Indians as of the 25th May, People calling each other names, even at the University! Kamla cannot unite anybody! The die hard UNC supporters insulting others and behaving like they have already won the election. Your opinion is yours, but I live next to some of them and I know what I am talking about.
According to scripture (KJV)Winston Cuffie and friends are apostates, yes apostates, and most certainly do not speak for the remnant.
They have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and they would perish in the gainsaying of Core.
They are clouds without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. They walk after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. They have not the Spirit of God.
Everything the Bible says Disciples/followers of Christ should not be or indulge in these apostates are and do, thinking they are doing God service.
Please do not refer to them as being of Christ (Christians) but by their correct names Apostates.
Should they examine themselves, they would know that they are in the faith but reprobates – endorsing those who blasphemy the name of my Lord and His Holy Spirit.
I tell you, Jesus would say to Cuffie and friends “I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?