Presbyterian Moderator: My mouth gets me in trouble

YVONNE WEBB

Moderator of the Presbyterian Church The Rt Rev Annabell Lalla-Ramkelawan admitted on the pulpit that her mouth often gets her into trouble.

And trouble it did when she made a protocol faux pas involving President Anthony Carmona, in terms of his order of appearance at a special thanksgiving service commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Presbyterian Church on Sunday.

In the presence of local and foreign dignitaries, including representatives from the Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church of Canada, World Council of Churches, as well as government minister Camille Robinson- Regis and San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello, the moderator publicly chastised a member of the President’s staff for the mix-up and called on Carmona to, “talk to him.”

The tone in which she said it, even as she apologised for the error, drew laughter from the congregation.

But Carmona, accompanied by his wife Reema, both of whom were seated in the front pew, were not amused.

When it was his turn to address the audience at the Susamachar Presbyterian Church, San Fernando, Carmona made it clear he was not one to engage in exigencies of protocol, but rather exigencies of substance.

“At no point in time must we sully a great moment as today, a moment of great substance, a moment in my mind that luxuriates our sense of humanity to each other,” Carmona said. Often making biblical references in a present-day context, observed that there was light in the church and a sense of eternal hope in the congregation.

He acknowledged several past principals who served at the five Presbyterian secondary and 72 primary schools for spreading knowledge through education, and singled out former Independent Senator Rev Daniel Teelucksingh as, “a very bright beacon.”

He also commended the church which launched a CD of Bhajans the Canadian missionaries converted to hymns in their effort to “christianise” the East Indian immigrants who make up the majority of the 40,000 strong Presbyterians today. Robinson-Regis, representing Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley apologised for his absence.

She said the PM who was scheduled to address the nation that same evening, could not be there, “but rather than decline your invitation he has asked me to take his place instead, for such is the degree of importance he has attached to today’s event.”

She reflected on the role of the Presbyterian Church in the growth and development of the country, in education and politics.

She said she was happy to have had the benefit of the wisdom and erudition of Rev Teelucksingh, Rev Everson Sieunarine, Rev Cyril Paul and Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan with whom she served in the Senate. “They have all made significant contribution to the politics and to the education and the life of TT.”

She also noted that there can be no doubt that the educational landscape of TT has been immeasurably altered by the presence of the Presbyterian Church, pointing out that two former Prime Ministers Basdeo Panday and Kamla Persad Bissessar, as well as, Chief Justice Sat Sharma have all benefited from the church’s Christian education.

Robinson-Regis said it seems as though the church has found the formula that eludes many of the local schools, but noted it is not an overnight success story.

She attributed it to the work and witness of the church and the Canadian missionaries among the poor, downtrodden, marginalised and outcasts.

Rev Ian Macaulay, representing The Rt Reverend Dr Derek Browning of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, presented Rev Lalla-Ramkelawan with a cross as a symbol of their friendship.

Rev Tim Dayfoot, the son of a missionary who was born in Trinidad and migrated to Canada at age 16, also brought greetings from the United Church of Canada and reflected on the time he and his family lived here.