CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - BARACK OBAMA’S inauguration as the first black President of the United States of America is a symbol of freedom. This is according to Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry who spoke at last night’s (Jan. 19) opening ceremony of the 48th West Indies Baptist Fellowship Conference at the Shiloh Baptist Hall in Charlestown.
“This is a moment in time. This is a moment when the whole world for a second stands still and appreciates what is taking place. For several years now, we have criticised the President of the United States of America but tomorrow is a moment in time. Tomorrow a black person becomes the President of the whole world…becomes the President of the greatest country in the whole world,” Parry told delegates amidst cheers.
The Premier said Obama’s inauguration was an indication that black persons, when they free themselves mentally, could achieve their highest goals. He said the inauguration was a symbol for black people.
“But for us the symbol is far greater. It is a reflection of where we came from; where we came from in terms of Africa; where we came from in terms of slavery; where we came from in terms of emancipation.”
Parry asked the delegates to reflect on whether black people have allowed themselves to be free mentally since being emancipated in 1834.
“But are we truly free? Have we allowed ourselves to be free? …We have maintained the chains of slavery in a mental form. We blame everyone and everything for whatever happens to us. Tomorrow is a symbol that those chains are broken and we no more can make excuses.
“We can change our place and feel a sense of pride. We can realise our greatest potential…everyone has an opportunity to do what is right and what is wrong. You can say to your children, this is where we are, this is where we came from. It is the time when black, yellow, white whatever color can embrace and move forward,” Parry said.
He described the conference as a time of renewal in terms of Christian spirit. The Premier called on the delegates to discuss problems existing in the region and cited threats to the family structure, violence and delinquency.
“All these problems are solvable. We only need to meet and discuss and implement. We have to take our children from the streets….our boys from the direction they are going. We have to make them understand there is something known as family. There is something known as authority and responsibility. We must make them know the difference. People want authority and no responsibility.”
The Premier is optimistic that a change could come in the region if the church reaches out to all. He told parents they had the greatest task to raise their children to be responsible and called on the church to guide the mothers and fathers.
“Some of these boys are saying they do not identify with the family,” Parry said. He said lack of an identity made the youths turn to gangs and use the power of the gun to intimidate others.
“They are finding the satisfaction of being important on the street; using the power of their guns to intimidate their parents, their sisters and friends. This is an opportunity to bring them back home,” Parry said.
The Premier called on the church to re-establish itself in Nevis and in the Caribbean. He said before 1991 everyone in Nevis went to church but that was until the emergence of the Four Seasons.
He said: “Let us take the opportunity to let our boys know what it is to be black, to be Nevisian and Caribbean. What it is to be a Christian.”
The Premier said Nevis was privileged to host two major conferences in the same month.
“It is an honour for me to stand here and greet you. Just last week I did a similar exercise at the Charlestown Methodist Church. At the beginning of 2009 we are having these two major conferences; two major church conferences. It is an indication that Nevis is the place to be. It must be an indication that Nevis is a beautiful place. In the month of January, Nevis is at its best. It is cool. It is green. I would hope that you would enjoy the hospitality of all the Nevisians.”
The Premier was accompanied by the Minister of Lands and Area, the Hon. Robelto Hector.
Last night’s ceremony and the reception which followed were attended by over 200 delegates drawn from 26 Caribbean territories including Antigua, Anguilla, Barbados, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Curacao, Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John’s, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, St. Maartin, St. Lucia, Tortola, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Delegates are also drawn from the USA while one person has travelled all the way from Botswana, Africa.
It is the third time the conference is being held in Nevis. It was first held in 1969, then in 1985. This year’s conference is being held from January 19 – 23 under the theme, “Running The Christian Race.”
