Like Pontius Pilate’s cowardice to choose the correct judgement on Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, High Court Judge Frank Seepersad says people frequently make the wrong decision because of convenience.
During his Easter sermon at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Gasparillo on Saturday, Seepersad stated that the nation is still recovering from the loss of four divers in the Paria Fuel tragedy, and that their deaths could have been prevented if there had been proactive, moral and prudent leadership.
“Positions of leadership can inflict a heavy burden upon the officeholders, and very often, there are multifaceted considerations which have to be evaluated, but, as this is done, the truth should never be compromised,” Seepersad said.
On February 25, 2022, LMCS divers Christopher Boodram, Kazim Ali Jr, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry and Rishi Nagassar were carrying out maintenance on the Paria Fuel Trading’s Sealine 36 at Berth 5 in the Pointe-a-Pierre Harbour. A Delta P event occurred, sucking the men into the pipeline.
Boodram escaped, but the others died, and their bodies flushed out in the following days.
A Commission of Enquiry established to probe the incident found Paria negligent for failing to rescue the divers.
During the sermon, Seepersad urged worshippers to pray and implored those in positions of authority to act bravely instead of choosing convenience over honesty.
Seepersad spoke of Pilate’s inability to please both the crowd and Jesus, likening it to the struggle of Christians. He said Scripture teaches, “We cannot serve two masters.”
He said very often, in every aspect of life, the right decision may not be convenient, as it may lead to consequences which may contradict insular concerns. He said that people often sacrifice co-workers for expediency, refusing to lend support and disregarding unfairness and injustice so they would not compromise chances for career advancement or “curry favour” with those in charge.
“Many times, we want to do the right thing, but we are not prepared to take a personal stand, and we yield to selfish concerns, private blackmail or public pressure,” he said.
On a national level, he asked the congregation how often they saw the effects of decisions that defy common sense.
“How often is institutional independence and integrity compromised to bolster and maintain power and control? How frequently do leaders deny the truth because it is politically expedient to do so? Have we seen people who hold positions of authority display moral cowardice in moments of crisis? Have poor decisions occasioned irreparable harm?”
Internationally, Seepersad questioned whether leaders overlook environmental concerns because of economic considerations and whether unholy political allegiances emerge to retain power despite political partners’ involvement in egregious human rights violations.
He questioned whether United Nations resolutions get vetoed because of misguided but deeply rooted beliefs that these allegiances are pre-ordained and sanctioned by God.
“It seems that the powerful have forgotten that the loving, forgiving, merciful, just and caring God that we all serve would not condone the atrocities which continue to unfold in Gaza, but yet, the global silence is as deafening as it is disappointing.”