KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, May 26, CMC -Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says his ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) government is willing to help the Spiritual Baptists repair their churches in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“We also have work to do on the churches,” he told worship service at Victoria Park to mark the inaugural annual national holidays in recognition of the Spiritual Baptist faith.
“And as I told the archbishop, we have to get to help to repair them, one by one, two by two, and we will count them by the numbers, day by day, sweet Jesus, and we will get them repaired,” Gonsalves said.
But the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) is urging members of the Baptist faith not to be fooled by such a promise.
“Let no one fool us. The Spiritual Baptist movement in St. Vincent and the Grenadines sees no colour. You are equally divided across all of the political spectrum, and we do ourselves a great good when we diminish the politics and accentuate your spirituality,” NDP vice president, St. Clair Leacock told the ceremony.
He told members of the Spiritual Baptists that the NDP will not try to “obtain leverage” from them and that “we recognize that at the same time that we are reminded that the things that unite us as a nation are now far greater, and always will be greater than that which divides us”.
Gonsalves said there were over 60 Spiritual Baptist churches in the country and that the figure might actually be 75. He suggested that Spiritual Baptists here set up a special school of Spiritual Baptist theology, saying members of the faith can rely on him for support.
He also suggested that they have their hymn books, as is the case in Trinidad and Tobago.
“They have their own hymn book with hymns taken from different churches but also the Spiritual Baptist hymns and the sankeys. And there’s some special ones in St. Vincent, and they must not die out and we have to help with those publications.
“And just like how you have a clear understanding of the scriptures and applying the scriptures through the experience of the people in our Caribbean civilisation, we must have that properly documented also.”
Gonsalves said a School of Theology for Spiritual Baptists can teach all of that and establish it as a fountain head of learning for Spiritual Baptists all over the world, “because St. Vincent and the Grenadines is where it started.”
Gonsalves, whose ULP came to office in March 2001, noted that his government repaired a major Spiritual Baptist church building soon after coming to office.
“Those of you who know Pastor Free church that was the church, that was a focal point of the resistance against colonialism after the war, and it was important for us very early in our administration to rebuild that church, to enlarge it and to build it in a manner which is dignified and respectful of its important history in the Spiritual Baptist faith in this country,” he added.
In 2024, Parliament passed a law with bipartisan support declaring May 21 as Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day.
Gonsalves said that early in his government’s term in office, his secretary had told him that Johnny Jones, who is now an archbishop, and a deacon, had come to see him.
“And then within five minutes, she said, Archbishop Pompey, that’s Cosmore Pompey is there,” Gonsalves said, adding that the trio had not communicated with each other before coming to see him, but “they came with the same mission to ask me to give an official day of recognition for Spiritual Baptist as a prelude to having a spiritual Baptist Liberation Day”.
He said he raised the matter with the Cabinet the following Wednesday.
“I said, ‘The Lord has spoken, and we must do it.’ And then last year, on Eloise birthday, May 26th at the Market Square, Johnny Jones, the Archbishop, then had me promise that we will have this day,” Gonsalves said, adding that he got the approval from the Cabinet on May 29 and gave the Attorney General the instructions to draft the law to take to Parliament.
Leacock in his greetings to the members, acknowledged “the maturity” of the Parliament in uniting to pass the law saying it was a “recognition that a great people who can be found in the spiritual Baptist movement, but a symbol of the resilience, unity, strength and self-belief of us as a predominantly black people”.
Leacock, a former commandant of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force, said more than anyone else in the Parliament has been on parade at the said park, celebrating one occasion or another.
“And today I say this is the parade and the gathering of gatherings, and the most significant one ever to present itself on these grounds in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said, adding “I bring the assurance of our political party that at all times we will build on the rich legacy and history of your movement.”
He said there have always been Vincentians in the vanguard from the privileged position to represent the cause of the Spiritual Baptists.
The NDP vice president recognised the role of former prime minister Robert Milton Cato, who as a lawyer, had represented Spiritual Baptists in a landmark case in the 1950s. He spoke of former representative of Central Kingstown under the NDP, the late Parnell Campbell, a former attorney general.
Leacock said Campbell — who was a Spiritual Baptist — has “perhaps in modern times done more for the spiritual Baptist movement than anyone in St. Vincent and the Grenadines”.
Leacock said his mother was a Spiritual Baptist and, noting that his grandmother was from Trinidad and Tobago, welcomed the Trinidadian delegation at the service.
“All that is left for me to do in the name of my distinguished leader is to let you know that no time would you ever see, feel or experience our political party trying to obtain leverage of you, the spiritual Baptist in St Vincent, the Grenadines.
“Indeed, at this time in our history, we need you more than ever to unify our St. Vincent and the Grenadines, because all around us, there are the circumstances that require social, spiritual and redemption of our people, and you are consistently and magnificently pointing us the other way and reminding us that in Christ there’s a saviour, and that after all, and at the end of the day, this challenge that you champion, it’s not too difficult a one.
“All it simply requires is that as we go on our knees in the morning and evening, we remain faithful to the call; just be our brother’s keeper.”
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