MP for Laventille West, Nileung Hypolite, yesterday offered the Spiritual Baptist community a renewed partnership with the PNM, saying that the country can use their strength as an example to prevail against all odds.
Hypolite made offer during the Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day celebrations hosted by National Congress of Incorporated Baptists Organisation of T&T at the St Augustine Senior Secondary School. "Just like the Spiritual Baptists who went through many struggles and trials, but remained true and committed in order to freely practise their religion, so too, the nation can draw on this strength to prevail against all ills," he said. Hypolite recounted the history of the Baptist religion, highlighting the struggles they had to endure, "but it was their faith which had them going strong 59 years after. "We in T&T are privileged to have your human story of faith that God is watching and we will prevail against all powers that confront our nation," he said.
"Thanks to you, the Spiritual Baptist, we can use your strength and as partners of 1956 with the PNM... today I offer you a renewal of partnership with the PNM as we persist with continued faith to build our nation." Hypolite also noted that crime in Laventille was on a steady decline, but said this would not have been possible without faith and prayers. "Crime in Laventille is on a steady decline...I am here to testify that this is a fact, but that can only take place with the prayers that are coming from each and every one of you, " he said. He said there were a number of religious organisations in Laventille, but "be assured that one can find a Baptist church at every corner." He said the spirit of the Baptist religion was still alive in Laventille today, like many years ago.
He reiterated that the Government had embarked on a specific programme to a cost of $300 million to develop Laventille, noting that "maybe, just maybe, the development and the use of that $300 million should be done in some kind of collaboration to the people who belong to Laventille."