Jamaican Pastors Say 'State of Emergency' Should be Called Over the Depraved Condition of the Jamaican People

"A society is not truly emancipated if it has to resort to a State of Emergency, because with God as the Master there would be freedom from crime and violence because there would be enough fear in your heart for God," said Abu Ibrahiim of the Montego Bay Masjiid.

"We are not emancipated. The only way we will be truly emancipated is when we turn back to our Creator, He is our only slave master and the only one who deserves to be given worship and to be respected. Once we turn to Him and do all of these things then therefore we will have freedom," he added.

In a commentary expressing dissatisfaction with the country's rate of progress, Dr Knollis King, who pastors the Rose Heights United Full Gospel Church of God, told the Observer West that a collaboration was needed between religious leaders, politicians and the private sector.

"The man who controls the money in Jamaica, controls the politicians. The politician has his own territory, the religious man has his own way, the businessman sets up boundaries also, everybody is territorial," he said.

According to King, the society is in desperate need of re-education as the current state of ignorance, especially where identity is concerned is blocking progress.

"If we are not clear who we are, then we are going to call ourselves shottas , gunmen and so on. The Black Man doesn't want to be himself. In a biblical sense the Black Man is the only one who fulfils the description of God in a physical sense in that he declares that He has hair like wool and skin like brass that has been burned in fire. Yet people would bleach to change the colour of their skin because of the negative things they are taught about themselves. Without identity there is no purpose, so we are going to have to find ourselves in the Almighty and know we are spiritual beings," he said.

Source: Jamaica Observer