PM disappointed with some churches’ covid19 response

The Prime Minister has expressed disappointment in churches that held services over the weekend in defiance of the government's advice not to congregate,.

He said legislation is being considered to address the issue.

Speaking on Monday at a post-Cabinet media conference, at the Diplomatic Centre, Port of Spain, Dr Rowley did not identify any culprits. But there were reports of various religious bodies hosting services over the weekend, even after two (now four) confirmed cases of covid19 were reported in the country.

"I was very disappointed to hear that, notwithstanding all the entreaties that have been made by government officials, by the technicians from the Ministry of Health trying to explain to you in simple language what we’re dealing with," Rowley said, "that certain people who run places of worship decided to do exactly what we say ought not to be done, and that is: do not congregate.

"I know you have a congregation and some people believe that they have a pipeline to heaven and God know them personally," he said, "but that is not going to save you from the virus."

Rowley said whether congregating in church or in a bar, "You will be giving us no chance to escape the ravages of the virus."

He stressed that history showed that there was once a plague so devastating, resulting in many deaths, because people failed to understand that they needed to separate themselves in such situations, but instead, all went to church to pray.

"And by congregating in such large numbers, the plague was able to move very quickly and very easily from one person to another. So a bad situation was made ten times worse. So while we all will do our contact with our superior beings, whether it is in the church, in the mosque or in the mandir, let us not congregate. Because that is what the virus would like us to do. Isolate, separate, be responsible."

Among the major points the prime minister raised were that the public should avoid gatherings of 25 or more people; the closure of all schools and places of learning until April 20; and the limitation of public gatherings by religious bodies.

If it becomes necessary to enforce these restrictions, Rowley said, the attorney general's office is on standby to draft appropriate legislation.

As recently as Monday, international media reported yet another cluster outbreak in South Korea, involving some 40 members of a church.

Local media, meanwhile, reported a gathering and walkabout organised by the National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith (NESBF) Tobago Circuit in Tobago on Sunday.

Baptist Archbishop Glenroy Jack said the services will not be suspended because "this is really the time that the church is really supposed to be in communication with our God, regardless of whatever religion."

The archbishop said the church members were being responsible in their conduct and acting in accordance with advice from the health authorities.

"We are adhering to the principles," Jack was quoted as saying. "We have installed the necessary hand sanitisers, and so on."

On Monday, Newsday contacted president of the IRO Dr Knolly Clarke, who is also a senior cleric of the Anglican Church. He said a number of Baptist faiths were not IRO members, including the NESBF, and as such could not vouch for them. And even if the NESBF were a member, he said, he could not issue directives to individual member organisations.

"All I could say (is) listen to what the Prime Minister is trying to say to us."

Clarke was asked if the NESBF's decisions to congregate as a matter of faith yet have hand sanitiser at their churches were in conflict with one another, and suggested a degree of scepticism, Clarke said: "Well, no, not scepticism. Wisdom. You have to use your wisdom.

On the Anglican Church in TT, he said, "I was just speaking to my warden...and he also suggested that we (the Anglican Church) may not have service. We are waiting on the bishop to give us direction.

"But I would not like to have any service on Sunday, because of what we have heard from the (authorities)."

He called for wisdom to prevail, regardless of religious views, and asked people to respect and adhere to the advice offered by the government.