Too much blood is being shed in the quest for power, says SDA pastor at Code of Conduct signing
Published:Thursday | February 11, 2016 | 12:00 AM
Western Bureau:
Urging candidates in St James to respect the code of conduct during the election season, pastor of the Glendevon circuit of the Seventh-day Adventist churches, Charles Brevitt, says too much blood is being shed in the quest for power.
Addressing Jamaica Labour Party and People's National Party candidates for all constituencies located in St James, during a meeting at the Wexford Hotel, Brevitt said the price was too high a payment.
"We are burying too many people killed prematurely by idiocy," he told the group, which had only two candidates absent, Dr Horace Chang and Edmund Bartlett.
According to the Custos of St James, Ewen Corrodus, both Bartlett and Chang asked to be excused after signing in the presence of witnesses on Ash Wednesday.
Unite warring factions
Quoting from the scriptures, Brevitt said St Paul insists, "that in God's republic we are one. Politicians who are worth their salt must demonstrate the ability to take warring factions and unite them into a new melting pot of productivity".
The SDA pastor said that from a turbulent sea of political diversity, Jamaica must become one nation - neither PNP, JLP nor any other P.
At the same time he argued that contending ideas must be free to exist.
"We can disagree without becoming disagreeable," he stated, calling for each candidate to take responsibility for keeping the bond of peace.
"Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat," he advised.
The candidates in attendance at the signing included, Marlene Malahoo-Forte, Ashley-Ann Foster, Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, Heroy Clarke, Homer Davis, Anthony Henry, Derrick Kellier and Noel Donaldson.
The code of conduct was signed by candidates across the island.