REV: Put down the weapons!

An Anglican cleric is of the view that National Hero, the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow would definitely frown at the level of crime and violence in Barbados today.

The Rev. Curtis Goodridge, who condemned last week’s shooting outside St. Alban’s Primary School in which 37-year-old Marlon Holder was killed as he dropped off his son, has made a passionate plea to put the weapons down and take up the word of God.

“For anyone who is following the Lord Jesus Christ will not openly in broad daylight and before children, kill anyone execution style. Anyone who is following Jesus Christ will not do the evil and wicked things this country today is experiencing,” he stressed during the Democratic Labour Party’s Errol Barrow Memorial Church Service at St. Lucy Parish Church, which marked the start of Errol Barrow Centennial celebrations yesterday.

“Put down the gun, put down the machete – put down the weapons and take up Jesus; put down the firearms and weapons and take up the word of God.”

“I am sure that this great and noble man whose centennial we are celebrating at this time, will definitely frown on what some of our young people – who he made free education available – he would frown on what they are doing to this country he loved so much…For many boys and girls are just wasting time at school and end up being a nuisance to this country. Errol Barrow must be rolling in his watery grave to see that some of our boys and girls are not making good use of that opportunity he has afforded them,” Rev. Goodridge said.

President of the DLP, Verla De Peiza, told the congregation that the focus of the Party’s founder was on the people of Barbados, and that in developing them, they then will position themselves to make a mark on the world scene.

In fact, she expressed, “I am satisfied that is still the formula for success, for this country.

“That we find a way to single out the talents of our individual people; that we find a way to promote what is socially just in this country. That we find a way to give space for creativity; to give space and latitude to those who think bigger from the rest of us because all have a valid role to play.”

“The lesson of his life to be applied to each and every one of us is that we think deeply - what is necessary to improve our society; our people. And then take the steps, mashing a few corns along the way, but doing it because you know it is the right thing to do to advance our society. He may well have built the foundation of Barbados, but it is incumbent upon us to send those walls up in the air,” De Peiza said. (TL)