UNC Chairman Extends Greetings To The Baptist Community
UNC Chairman Lee – As we celebrate Spiritual Shouter Baptist day lets work towards the liberation of Trinidad and Tobago
As Chairman of the United National Congress I would like to wish the Spiritual Baptist Community sincerest and warm greetings as we mark Spiritual Baptist liberation Day 2017. However as we celebrate this auspicious day which signifies the end of suppression and discrimination against our Baptist brothers and sisters to freely practice their faith , we must unite as a nation to pray, work and struggle for the liberation for Trinidad and Tobago which has now become imprisoned by growing turmoil, sorrow and hardship.
Within the world’s history many oppressive notions have been undertaken but few have been unjust, unfair and demonizing as the Shouter Prohibition Ordinance of 1917. However today we celebrate the strength, tenacity and courage of our Spiritual Baptist Brothers and Sisters to endure and persevere despite severe discrimination to ensure their beliefs never died and morals were passed on for future generations. Today as a nation in crisis we are called upon to adopt the same attitude of strength and determination as we work towards liberating Trinidad and Tobago from the burdens of growing poverty, increasing sorrows due to murder, rising levels of neglect and national levels of discontent.
Like the dark times when Baptists were not allowed to enjoy their faith today we see citizens have now become imprisoned in their own homes as they are not able to freely walk the streets or carry out their daily activities due to the current crime situation. As it stands today many families are finding it hard to put food on the table as thousands have been losing their jobs while thousands more find it difficult to obtain jobs. Today many of our nation’s youth exist in total disarray as their futures have been greatly impacted by the many cuts to social, educational and vocational programs.
The memories of oppression are reborn as our citizens of Trinidad and Tobago continue to see their nation’s resources squandered away without any tangible improvements to their lives while the lives of future generations are being put into further debt coupled with the burden of increasing taxes on the population.
As a nation we have become boxed in by underdevelopment and neglect by those in authority but as a citizenry we must become brave, bold and vigilant as the Spiritual Baptist Community acted during 1917 to 1951 when they fought for equality and recognition.
Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day 2017 presents us with an opportunity to learn the qualities of determination from a strong dynamic community which has added tremendous value to the framework of Trinidad and Tobago and use them to liberate our nation as we fight for a Trinidad and Tobago where each citizen is able to enjoy prosperity, safety, individual growth and contribute to the sustainable development of their nation.
Dr. David Lee,
Chairman, United National Congress & Member of Parliament for Pointe-a-Pierre.