A senior clergyman is urging Jamaicans to challenge elected leaders to lower the country’s spiraling crime figures, even as he called upon everyone to remember these leaders in prayer.
Rev. Dr. Stevenson Samuels, the senior pastor of the Waltham Park New Testament Church of God in Kingston, noted that while politicians have been able to fulfill their promise to offer free education and free healthcare to a large extent, the pledge to create a tranquil and peaceful Jamaica remains elusive.
“What politicians have failed to offer to Jamaican people over the years is that tranquility and that calmness. Them all promise it ennuh. Them all say that you are going to sleep with your….” he said before putting a hand over his mouth.
“We are saying to our leaders, bring it down, because it can be brought down. Things can be better. The crime rate can go down. We are saying to you, you are voted in, whatever side you are on to bring it down, so get it down in Jesus name. ”
Dr. Samuels, a former chairman and now member for the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee was delivering a sermon, centered on the theme, “Make Jamaica Great”. He urged Jamaicans to pray for the county’s political leaders and offer them wise counsel.
“We must remember to pray for our political leaders. We must pray in our prayers for the Most Honourable Andrew Holness; like him, or not. We must pray for our Member of Parliament, whatever the colour. We must pray for the Mayor Delroy Williams, whether he is doing anything or not; pray for your councilor! No matter what the colour these leaders represent, we must pray for them.”
The pastor pointed to several ways Jamaica is displaying its greatness. He commended the country’s athletes for their feat in the World Championships and the Sunshine girls who secured a first-ever silver medal in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games netball final.
Prior to the sermon, both Holness and Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding had messages presented to mark the 20th anniversary of the Office of the Political Ombudsman. A team from the commission, led by political ombudsman, Donna Parchment Brown attended the service.
