UNC pledges support for Baptists

The United National congress has extended fraternal greetings to the Baptist community on the occasion of Baptist Liberation Day.

The UNC offered its full support for the Baptist community and pledged its continuing assistance in bring about a better understanding of the trials and tribulations of those who pioneered the religion over the years.  The party also expressed its pride in contributing to the level of awareness of what it referred to as “one of the greatest religions of our ancestors”. The party wishes to re-emphasise the fact that it was the UNC, led by then Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, that was determined to grant the Baptist community its own holiday. The party also pointed out that the then opposition PNM was opposed to the labelling of the holiday, wishing instead that March 30th be considered a Public Festival Day. The statement went on to say that it was under the UNC administration that the government agreed to provide five acres of land in Orange Grove to strengthen the institutions of the faith and allocated 25 acres in Maloney for the establishment of a Spiritual Park.