Saint Kitts PM Denzil Douglas

Funding for HIV/AIDS and ‘No Confidence Motion’ on Prime Minister Douglas’ Agenda

By William Doyle-Marshall

Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas is the Regional spokesperson on health and HIV matters attending the UNAIDS Conference taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia. “I am going there together with some other political leaders and those who are working in the HIV/AIDS fight. We are going to look at some new initiatives which have to be pursued,” the Prime Minister promised. In addition, he will be speaking to the parliament in Barcelona bringing to the attention of Spain and Europe of the need for continued support as the Caribbean region and as UN/AIDS generally and globally continue their fight against HIV/AIDS.

  Speaking with media practitioners in Toronto last Saturday, Dr. Douglas said in the continuing fight against HIVAIDS there has to be the highest political support if the AIDS pandemic affecting the Caribbean region is to be managed. Over the years health professionals  have been able in the Caribbean to develop particular initiative called the Pan Caribbean partnership in the fight against HIVAIDS. This has been identified by the United Nations as an international model that can be followed and replicated by other regions of the world, Dr. Douglas reported.

                                       PM Dr.Denzil Douglas in Toronto

   “In that context we are looking at some of the new initiatives which are to be pursued in continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS. We all are aware that the global, financial and economic crisis and its prolongation has been affecting every single country around the world,” the Prime Minister explained. There is concern at UNAIDS that the level of financing needed for the fight against HIV/AIDS has been declining over the years.

  Meanwhile, Dr. Douglas admitted that a  motion of no confidence brought by members of his Opposition against his government and defection of two members last year has been a distraction and of some concern because it came at a time when the country was attempting to resolve a lot of the financial and economic challenges it was facing. “It became a distraction because it was at a time when we were about to go into parliament with a budget for2013, that would have shown for the first time, after several years, a surplus,” Dr. Douglas explained in an interview here with members of the Toronto media fraternity.

   The budget which was approved by parliament last week, returns the national economy on a path of positive growth, he said. Naturally a situation where serious initiatives were being pursued to have more of our people employed; a reduction in the corporation tax from 35%to33% and hopefully over the next year or so to 30% took precedence over the motion, the Prime Minister said.  The government’s proposal of taxation reduction calls on the private sector to use this tax break to be re-invested and thereby expand their operations. Such action would provide a level of support to government and the country, as a whole as attempts are being made to tackle unemployment in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Douglas emphasized.

   While the defection of these two members of government could not have come at a worse time, the Prime Minister insisted that democracy is alive and well in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The motion of no confidence was treated with a certain amount of priority and knowing that it had to come before the parliament, the government also guided by the constitution and by the rules of the House. “The rules of the House say that government business must take precedence over private business in the parliament,” Dr. Douglas added.

  Members of the Opposite went to the court seeking a ruling to basically to bring the work of the parliament to in order to bring the motion of no confidence to parliament. Last Thursday the court ruled that the parliament could not be stopped from doing its work because there was a motion of no confidence substantive matter to be heard. So the injunction that the opposition was requesting the court to grant to prevent the parliament from doing its other business, that was not granted. The injunction was not granted. It was withdrawn in the end by the opposition. The court’s ruling means parliament can now meet to do the important business of the people and when the substantive matter of the motion would have been heard then “maybe the motion would get on the order paper and it will be debated and eventually voted upon. As of now the government has had a substantial victory on this matter because it has not been stopped from pursuing the other matters.

  The constitution does not speak to when a motion of no confidence must be heard by the parliament. In addition, government followed the tradition established way back in 1981when the Saint Kitts and Nevis government of the day had a motion of no confidence which has never been heard. It was put back into parliament in 1982 and up to now it has not been debated. “Following on these traditions and on what exactly is our constitutional framework, we eventually have decided that with the budget having been announced before the motion of no confidence was brought to the clerk of the house, the budget must be heard first,” Dr. Douglas recalled. Last week Tuesday the budget was passed, unanimously and government is now waiting for the possibility of having the motion placed on parliament’s order paper. 

Spiritual Baptist Celebrate Liberation

Spiritual Baptist faith vibrant in Canada ...  facing similar struggles to First Nations people

By William Doyle-Marshall
Her Grace Archbishop Dr. Deloris Seiveright Head of the Canadian Diocese for the National Evangelistic Spiritual Baptist Faith (NESBF) told celebrants of the 62nd anniversary of Liberation that her congregation here is of a Caribbean nature.
   In her Liberation sermon Archbishop Seiveright told celebrants “We do have a Caribbean church. It’s not about being Trinidad alone. Half of my church and churches affiliated with me are from the Caribbean and the other are from the countries,”she said.
   Members of the National  Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith (Shouters) in the Greater Toronto Area participated in a special celebratory service Sunday (March 24)  under the direction of Archbishop Seiveright. All Spiritual Baptist, Revivalist and Zionist and other Churches are always welcome to attend its celebrations.
  Member churches and their leaders assembled at 63 Mack Avenue in the east end of the City of Toronto for a joint occasion as Shouters observed Palm Sunday also. Among NESBF participating churches are St. Theresa’s Well of Life, Mount Refuge, Sacred Heart, Free for All Ministry, Rose of Sharon, Mystic Willow, The Refuge Church of Christ and Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic.

NESBF Clergy celebrate

Liberation Day in Toronto

Reverend Sebastian Homeward, left

Bishop Holness and Bishop Heron

                             Bishop Jezreel Batson and Archbishop Dr.Deloris Seiveright

   Bishop Jezreel Batson, son of Dr. Seiveright, quite proud of his joint Jamaican (mother) and Barbadian (father) heritage recounted a major benefit he received from the experiences of a Spiritual Baptist child growing up in Canada. “There is a special feeling that I receive when I think of my mother. It’s not about just the fact that she cared for me. But my brother and I are special people, I would say.”
   Reviewing his cousins and all the grand children in the family, the Bishop concludes that he is from a peculiar stock of first generation Canadians because of his Jamaican and Barbadian heritage. Being involved in a faith and an organization that has its roots and Diocese in Trinidad and rubbing shoulders with friends and family that he know from Saint Vincent and Grenada and all these different islands, Bishop Batson grew up as a person who is in a Caribbean melting pot, what he calls a Caribbean soup, a pepper pot, a peleau in Trinidad or a Jamaican run down.
   The Head of the Shouters’ Canadian Diocese in her sermon “Freedom Open Doors” Dr. Seiveright recapped challenges to her leadership by individuals of the faith who would prefer a male Archbishop doing her work. Irrespective of one’s gender Dr. Seiveright stressed it is important for people to stand up for their rights. Never-the-less, she concluded the Spiritual Baptist faith is vibrant in Canada but “they have too many masters; too many chiefs and not enough members”.
  While the middle-level leadership was concerned with creating divisions, Archbishop Seiveright regretted that spiritual Baptists have been going back to Pentecostal churches because they are tired with the foolishness.
   “We have to come together. We have to know where it (Spiritual Baptist Faith) came from. What goes around comes around. Everybody is coming back (to the Shouters church),”the NESBF Head predicted. As Spiritual Baptists in Canada join with their counterparts throughout the Caribbean celebrating the 62nd anniversary of their liberation, Archbishop Seiveright appealed to them to take advantage of the many opportunities available in this country.
   Dr. Seiveright urged Shouters to realize their dreams to be nurses, doctors, teachers, lawyers, whatever they want to be when they migrated from the lands of their birth. Having reached the land of opportunity Shouters were advised to recognize their freedom and use it wisely. Getting close to their parliamentary representatives at every political level is a key, Dr. Seiveright counselled.
   Trinidad and Tobago’s Consul General in Toronto Dr. Vidhya Tota-Maharaj and MPP Bas Balkissoon, a national of Trinidad and Tobago and long-time supporter of Shouters, were among dignitaries who address the gathering.
   Balkissoon MPP for Scarborough Rouge wants to see more young people as followers of the faith. “You got to change all the young ones that they will have to be here,” he urged. Through NESBF Balkissoon has learnt about some of the history of his own country of birth and the wrongs that have been done against the Shouters’ community.
  “Over the years of being here I have also known that a lot of people have tried to address those wrongs and it’s no different than some of the wrongs that have been done in this country to the First Nations people and we are still struggling to correct those wrongs,” the MPP observed.
   Dr. Tota-Maharaj reminded the gathering that in Trinidad and Tobago there was a long and tedious struggle for the Baptist faith to be recognized there. She proudly informed the congregation that Shouters now have a Baptist school and a public holiday. The Consul General proudly acknowledged that the Shouters have spread their wings and migrated to Canada and have established themselves. Dr. Tota-Maharaj commended NESBF members  for the wonderful work they are doing in their Canadian-Caribbean community, keeping them together in good and urgent cases. In congratulating the Diocese, the Consul General wished them the best, continued success and prayed the church’s growth in spirit and numbers.
   Jim Karygiannis MP for Scarborough-Agincourt in the Canadian House of Commons acknowledged that NESBF brought its indigenous faith and other cultures to the country. He recognized contributions by the church to local communities. “Canada is a proud multicultural nation that embraces a wide variety of religions, cultures and heritages and organizations like NESBF help to foster the identity and strengthen the fabric of Canadian society,” MP Karygiannis said in his Liberation Day message. Venezuelan-born Eduardo Hariri who represented the federal parliamentarian told celebrants it was good to see the spirit of Trinidad brought to life by the Shouters here in Canada .
   Shouters also received messages from Bishop Steadman Heron of The Refuge Church of Christ and Bishop Samuel Holness of Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic.
March 30, 2013

End of Racism Evident?

In this lifetime, beginning of the end of Racism Evident?

By William Doyle-Marshall

“How long it will take for people to realize we are all human beings?” This question still lingers in the mind of African American musician and peace advocate Daryl Davis following his keynote address recently at the 2013 Gandhi-King Memorial dinner in Hamilton – the peace capital of the world.

   Davis engaged his audience for more than an hour as he took them on a journey of his travels across the United States of America interviewing and meeting with members of the Klu Klux Klan. He was searching for reasons behind the cause for people hating each other due to feelings of superiority and inferiority.

   Jayanthi Parekh, treasurer of the India Canada Society of Hamilton found Davis’ presentation very inspiring and uplifting. “You are an American hero, most unique thinker and the message you brought here today is really remarkable just like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King,” Parekh said.

  Davis’ approach to promoting peace was considered non-violent and non-judgmental coupled with courage and inner strength. “He demonstrated once we understand the enemy, we can resolve the problem more peacefully,” Parekh noted.

                                   Daryl Davis received thank yous 
                                   from Hamiltonians Marnie 
                                  Alexander  and Evelyn Myrie 
                                  following his insightful lecture 
                                  presentation 

   “There is only one race – the human race and we come in all shades and colours and genders,” Davis remarked to the applauding gathering.  While he knows racism will not necessarily end in our life time, the experienced musician told the Hamilton audience he truly believes, in this lifetime they will see the beginning of the end of it. “We are seeing ourselves get more and more mixed – and receptive to change especially with the younger generations so I do think that we are on a good path,” Davis summarized. India Canada Society of Hamilton, the Hamilton Community Foundation and Hamilton Center for Civic Inclusion were among sponsors of the event.

  “Living Gandhi and King Today” was the theme of the lecture at the Hamilton Convention Center. Davis reminded his audience they cannot forget where they came from nor all the hard work that people put out there to try to make societal change. “That’s why we recognize people like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who are no longer with us,” Davis continued.

    It’s very important that young people are taught about Gandhi and King. While they may not have lived during these civil rights leaders’ time they need to know about the sacrifices made and the tools of communication they used to get their message across, Davis added. At the conclusion of the lecture Evelyn Myrie  of the Hamilton Center for Civic Inclusion which invited Davis to lunch said she received a very clear message: people of her community must stop preaching to the converted and get out into the wider world and become truly change agents.

  Members of the Gandhi-King Event Organizing Committee are Ashok Kuman, Khursheed Ahmed, Marlene Dei-Amoah, Sri Gopal Mohanty, Joy Warner, Gail Rappolt, Matthew Green, Christopher Cutler, Gary Warner, Bill De Lisser, Janice Lukas,  Evelyn Myrie, Rama S. Singh, Julia Horton and Sumbul Syed.

March 31, 2013

London's fugitive slave chapel moving

London’s 1848 to 1859  fugitive slave chapel moving to Beth Emmanuel

By William Doyle-Marshall

The African Methodist Episcopalian Church under Superintendent Dr. Chester Searles is very busy trying to resolve some outstanding matters. They include re-locating the historical fugitive slave chapel which operated between 1848 to 1859 in London, Ontario. It was scheduled to be demolished by the owner of the lands where the building now stands. However, community outcry forced the developer to halt action on destruction of the historic building. Dr. Delta McNeish, pastor of Beth Emmanuel Church is enthusiastically awaiting the arrival of the heritage building on her church property.

  She considers the unplanned development as the work of God. “I like the fact that he by-passed our brains because my sense is if I had probably gone and brought this up on my own volition, I am not so sure what would have happened but the Lord in his marvelous wisdom went right to the top,” she theorized. “He went right to City Hall, he brought them right to this church and when it was in the newspaper that the Slave Chapel was going to be demolished, all of London that has anything to do with history, has anything to do with Black History or any history at all, was enraged and they said ‘no. we can’t have that’,” Dr. McNeish reflected.

   Beth Emmanuel Church runs a special ministry for  community residents under the direction of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Conference. Every Thursday dinner is served to over 200 people . Dr. Chester Searles, superintendent of the conference visited the Southern Ontario district recently to consult with his attorney and visit with pastors at Beth Emmanuel. It was a truly spiritual day.  The two pastors who run the ministry at the church are Dr. Delta McNeish and Pastor Alvin McKay. They are caring for the needs of the community, feeding and clothing, providing shelter and counseling. A venture so demanding yet they handle it with what seems like little stress.

  Pastor McNeish is hopeful that somehow God will provide enough money. She is envisioning at least $400,000 to $500,000 that would provide a good foundation for the building that’s being moved. At the same time Dr. McNeish and her associates want to continue to sustain their current programmes with a bigger facility. "We need more space here . You try cramming 200 people in this little 40 by 40 dining area. It’s a challenge. But we manage. I envision something happening that would not be an interference but really a complement to what we are doing,” Dr. McNeish pontificated.

 enslaved Africans place of worship in the 1840s. (William Doyle-Marshall photo)

  Alvin too is convinced that their developments are the work of the Lord. “I find it interesting though that it’s a Black-based original movement in a sense that it was a place from Freedom in this neighbourhood. That neighbourhood  isn’t necessarily Black. In fact, we’ve got a lot of Aboriginals that are connecting with us but they are also slaves to addiction Church

The ministry’s focus is the community and Dr. McNeish insists the community is their church so the pastors are there to minister to the people. So they are there to listen and cater to the parishioners’ needs. “Whatever their needs are, if we can’t reach them, we will send them somewhere else,” Dr. McNeish advises. In many cases the needs are of a financial nature. “A lot of people in this area come looking for money but there are services that meet that need. We specifically touch them for Jesus and the Lord has been using us to help in that capacity, I believe in a very special way,” the pastor continues

Dr. Delta McNeish, left, pastor of Beth Emmanuel Church, London, Ontario; Dr. Chester Searles, right, superintendent of the African Methodist Episcopalian Church; Pastor Alvin McKay, 3rd from right, pose with church volunteers who help carry out a ministry serving residents of the community.(William Doyle-Marshall photo

   Residents of London have often turned up making requests that could not be granted. “One of the key successes to this ministry is that we are not only seeking the Lord but we’re listening. There are times in prayer that we won’t pray, we just listen. We listen for 45 minutes, an hour before there is an utterance. What that’s done is, it has yielded the Lordship to Christ,” he recounts.

Two abandoned cemeteries in the Town of Tecumseh and Puce as well as the Chatham Park in Chatham-Kent Municipality are also being scrutinized by AME Leadership. The bodies of deceased enslaved persons are buried in those locations said Dr. Searles. It is felt that out of respect for the ancestors, these properties should not be touched so that the spirits of the dead could rest peacefully. Within recent times the properties have emerged as bones of contention as nearby landowners and the municipality are seeking permission to occupy the properties. During a recent meeting with the church’s attorney Douglas Desmond, in Ridgetown, Ontario, it was noted that cemeteries cannot be used for any other purpose under the Cemeteries Act.

April 10, 2013