Lord, deliver us!

He was praying at Government’s “Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving Programme” held at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.

Duncan said the land is still good and there is hope for the nation.

He repented for the “atrocities” in the nation including misbehaviour in public office, the slow wheel of justice or “downright injustice” in some instances, the short fuse that leads to domestic violence, widespread murders, the snapping out of the life of unborn children, men not protecting women and children and women weeping for children that are gone.

On youths, Duncan said there is a “free for all” and they have wrong values and unsound judgements.

“We are all guilty before you oh God today - forgive us. Our moral, ethical and spiritual standards have fallen badly as a people and we are reaping the consequences of this. Our land is defiled by blood and widespread abominations.

We need a cleansing and a purification from you oh God today,” he prayed.

He prayed the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ would cleanse the land.

“Have mercy on us oh Lord and heal our land from years of deep and open wounds,” he added.

He prayed for wisdom for President Anthony Carmona and also for guidance to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his Cabinet to run the country effectively.

“Enough is enough.

Let sagaciousness and prudence govern a new brand of politics for our land,” he said.

He continued: “We sit in awe sometimes to see what happens in the Parliament.” He prayed for wisdom for Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar and her MPs and also that the oil prices will rise, there will be more jobs and for God to remove fear and tension form the land.

Pastor Leslie Moses of the Seventh Day Adventist Faith also prayed on crime and asked God to “save us from the criminals” and to bring them to justice.

“I pray they will give up the guns and give in to Jesus,” he added.

He continued: “Save us from the bloodshed Lord. Beat back the powers of darkness.” Roman Catholic Father Clyde Harvey in his prayer asked God to forgive us for our failings, selfishness and greed and “may all those who would enrich themselves in this season of drought recognise their deep, unforgivable sin. And may all the poor know that no matter how poor they are they can make a contribution to the peace and stability of this land”.

He said 40 years ago this country decided to forge its own path and asked that we live that responsibility to the fall.

Bishop Claude Berkley of the Anglican faith prayed for social order to be maintained and Pundit Uttam Maharaj, representing Hindus, prayed that the security forces would arrest the scourge of crime.

“Let us not be prisoners in our own homes,” he stressed.

He prayed for the police as well as the Coast Guard and Defence Force to protect our borders. He also prayed for the nation’s children and that they will “never be the prey of vile and wicked predators”.