CATEGORY:RELIGIOUS SERVICE
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By Trevor Thwaites (Inside Grenada correspondent)


ST.GEORGE, Grenada - Opposition leader, Hon. Tillman Thomas, says that the Interfaith Service held on Sunday at the GBSS Auditorium should have also been used to ask for God’s forgiveness for the mistakes committed in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. It has been acknowledged that despite the remarkable recovery made, many of the poor and needy that suffered dearly were not the first to be cared for, and in some instances, have not received any kind of assistance.

Thomas said that the reconstruction has not been carried out with justice, equity and efficiency on the part of the state, church and non governmental organizations. “I believe we have to ask God for forgiveness for what we have failed to do, because as a result of our failure, lots of people have suffered.” He said that God cannot be used conveniently. “We cannot set an agenda for God. We have to fit into God’s agenda, whether we are lawyers, politicians, priests or business people, we have to reflect God’s will in our agenda.”

This he said must be given serious consideration in all of our undertakings. “We have to reflect the will of God in our agenda. We have to be sincere in what we are doing”, he said. Thomas is also of the view that the country is being built back better. But he said that the physical structure is not all and that there is also the need to construct good values, decency, honesty, truth and loyalty, because building back physically alone is not the answer.

The opposition leader says that as a nation, we have to create an environment that will also welcome Jesus Christ because he will not be part of any and everything. He stressed the need for the cultivation of proper morales and values. “We have to be conscious of these things. As a Christian people, we must be guided by the teachings of Jesus.” Tilman called on the nation to be truthful and honest since he said that these are the essence of Christianity.

On the second anniversary of Hurricane Ivan, the Opposition leader calls on his countrymen to join hearts and hand to build a stronger and better nation. However he says that this advancement should be constructed around sincerity and truth. “I still believe the opportunity is open for us to do it. So let us take advantage of this opportunity and build a nation with truth and create an environment to accommodate Jesus as a Christian nation.