IRO BACKS PRAYERS FOR CRIMINALS

This view was given by vice-president of the IRO, Archbishop Amilius Marrain, of the Triune Spiritual Shouter Baptist church who said the IRO recognised that crime “cannot be solved just by police and the witness. We always seek divine help. The comments made by the RC priests are founded on the principles of the Bible.” Asked if prayer was working since crime has not decreased, Marrain said, “prayer has made a big difference. There was a reduction in kidnaping and while murders continue nothing happens overnight. It takes prayer and more prayer. The Bible says God is slow but his reward is sure.” The call for prayers was made last Sunday by Frs Dwight Merrick and Ian Taylor at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Laventille, following a peach march through Belmont and Laventille. Fr Merrick launched the “Prodigal Sons” initiative which will recruit people into groups to pray for deviant young men in the community to repent. The names of deviant youths would be given to groups for prayers. Merrick said it was a fallacy to believe the crime problem would be solved by gang members eliminating each other. Fr Ian Taylor said the peace march was aimed at dealing with corruption and crime and scripture states that united prayer brought results.