People’s National Movement (PNM) Senator Foster Cummings, a Spiritual Shouter Baptist, yesterday called for the Baptist community to be given its own cathedral in Port-of-Spain.
Joining in the celebration of Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day at the St Ann’s Church of Spiritual Metaphysics in Couva, Cummings said the Baptist community needs more recognition in T&T.
“This is the desire of the National Congress, which is the umbrella body for Spiritual Baptists in T&T, and as Spiritual Baptist is the only indigenous religion in T&T and therefore it will bring great pride to religion to have a place of worship properly constructed in the capital city,” Cummings said.
“So Baptists can use it for official functions, official weddings, funerals et cetera and worship together. We don’t have a church that can accommodate that large gathering. It’s also about the space and because Port-of-Spain is the capital, we would like to see it built in Port-of-Spain.”
Speaking to the T&T Guardian after the function, Cummings said he made the call as a member of the faith and not as a senator, but he still hopes the council will receive the support of the Government.
“I made the call as a member of the faith and not as a senator, but that is something the congress will have to engage the Government and private sector interest in, in making sure it becomes a reality. We hope to work to getting that off the ground as soon as possible. We do have other programmes we would like to engage in but for now the cathedral is the number one priority,” he said.
Cummings said the council may also consider setting up a national fund to finance the cathedral.
“There is no direct call to the Government to do it, this is a wish from the faith and by any means that we can get it done. There are a lot of Spiritual Baptists in T&T. Maybe we will eventually have to set up a fund to make sure it becomes a reality, but we welcome contributions from any quarter, including the Government.”
Culture Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly also attended the celebrations. Speaking afterwards, she told the media it was the first time she was hearing of the desire from the community for a cathedral in Port-of-Spain.
“This is the first time we have heard about it and so I know we will be having discussions to see if we can accommodate and how we can, but it will take a little time for us to figure that out,” she said.
“But this is the first time we have heard it so we will take it into consideration.”
Gadsby-Dolly said she is also hoping the history of the Shouter Baptist community will make it into the primary school curriculum.
“Well I am hoping that it will be included, but that falls under the purview of the Ministry of Education. I know they have had their consultation on education and they are at this point reviewing that curriculum. I am optimistic that it will be part of the curriculum.”