UNC celebrates Baptist Day triumph

THE United National Congress (UNC) said the commemoration of today as Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day was representative of the triumph of the Baptist community over religious persecution, discrimination and adversity, and represents the victory of the people to assert themselves in the national mainstream. In a message to celebrate the day, the UNC recalled that it was their government in 1996 under Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, that declared March 20 a holiday in recognition of the struggle of the Baptist community.

A statement from the party said the declaration of the day came after a series of false promises by successive PNM administrations. The UNC also pointed out that it was under their administration that lands at Maloney were given to the Baptists for the construction of a school and an African spiritual park, as well as the removal from the statue books of several discriminatory laws that affected the Baptists’ and Orishas’ right of freedom to practice their religion and freedom of expression. The UNC said it saluted the thousands of Baptists who will be celebrating the ninth anniversary of the holiday.