Anglican bishop wants parallel award

Bess yesterday suggested the introduction of a parallel award of equal significance for “people who have difficulty with the cross” or perceive the cross as a Christian symbol.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced that the Government will change the name of the Trinity Cross for this year’s Independence Day award ceremony. He told the House that his administration had to comply with Justice Peter Jamadar’s ruling on May 26.

In an interview Bess said, “With the greatest respect for the devotees of Hinduism and the followers of Islam, who are part of the great religious traditions of the world, the cross is really not a Christian symbol. It predates Christianity by centuries. The cross is a symbol which Christianity embraced.”

Bess said it was regrettable that the cross had become an issue. He said Trinidad was named after the Trinity and the word Trinidad not the cross had more Christian connotations.

“You cannot change history. Trinidad is named after the Christian idea of trinity. That will be so forever.”

Bess said in India in the early 19th and 20th centuries a parallel award was introduced for gallant Indians who could not be awarded the Victoria Cross.

He said the fish is a Christian symbol which was used by Christians during the period of persecution.

“Does it mean people who are not Christian will stop eating fish?”

Contacted for comment yesterday, Archbishop Edward Gilbert said the Social Justice Commission was working on a judicial opinion and would issue a statement at a later date.

On May 26 Justice Peter Jamadar in the San Fernando High Court said the court could not declare the award invalid. However, he did rule that the name Trinity Cross discriminated against Hindus and Muslims.