THE Prime Minister says while the nation continues to experience hurt following the pandemic, crime and recent flooding, people need to have faith that there is a dawn to come after the darkness.
He made this call while thanking religious leaders who participated in an event on Sunday dubbed by Government as, a National Service of Reflection and Thanksgiving, at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.
Dr Rowley thanked the religious leaders for their words of encouragement and said the nation needed to be encouraged.
“We are experiencing the ending of the pandemic. It was a punch in the solar plexus, it burnt up all our savings and has taken some of our loved ones. You the people would have heard from your spiritual leaders about our circumstances and what your response should be.
"We have been encouraged to listen, we have experienced the hurt, but we have also been told in the great darkness there is dawn to be had.
“This is our source of strength, in our Christian community this is called faith, without faith we’re lost, we have to have faith in ourselves, our neighbours, our doctors, our teachers, our leaders, as we have faith in our Gods,” Rowley said.
During the inter-faith service, leaders of the various main religions practised in TT not only prayed, but also spoke on several national issues including crime and the recent floods.
END CULTURE OF DISRESPECT
RC Archbishop of Port of Spain Fr Charles Jason Gordon said the nation had gone through a time of suffering and challenge during the pandemic but could emerge clearer if people did the spiritual work required.
“There’s a work we have to do of grieving because so many people have lost so much in the last three years. Much of what we are experiencing is trauma, as seen in the upsurge in violence in our schools, our streets, and our homes, and we have to consciously have to work to heal.
"The usual first response to trauma is anger, and if you feel the pulse of the nation there is anger, it’s boiling and we have to confront it.”
He said there were three facets of doing this physical work: moving from a culture of disrespect to one of respect; showing compassion; and, being grateful.
“We have made a national pastime of disrespect, and we have to recognise that each person is a child of God, regardless of creed, race, or where they come from, and they must be given that respect.
"To move to a culture of respect, we have to hear how our tongue addresses other people, and give a word of blessing versus cursing and disrespect.
GIVE THANKS, GET BLESSINGS
Imam of the Mucurapo Street, San Fernando Mosque, Maulana Atif Majeed Suliamani said Allah is calling on people to give thanks to Him and He would bless them.
“The thanksgiving of a grateful heart is priceless. This is what God expects of us, no matter what the challenge, you give thanks to God, and say, 'I am grateful,' and He will give you more. Complaining gives us more misery and more trouble,” Suliamani said.
He prayed for blessings for those who were working for peace, flood victi
