Church must hold 'political leaders accountable'- Nehassie Chalwell
Member of the Community Worship Centre Church of God of Prophecy (CWC COGOP) in Long Look, Mr Nehassie Chalwell has said the church has a responsibility to assist in holding political leaders responsible and that staying silent is giving consent to unacceptable conduct.
Mr Chalwell was at the time delivering the ‘vote of thanks’ at the forum, 'A Response' hosted by the church’s Men’s Ministry Department and featured political candidates from the Seventh and Eighth Districts on the evening of March 12, 2023.
'The church has a voice'
In thanking the candidates for accepting the invitation to participate in the forum, Chalwell said many questioned the church’s involvement in politics, but pointed out that it has a voice and a responsibility.
“Many questioned this event, wondering if the church should really take part in politics… Now, the church has a responsibility to help hold the political leaders accountable. The church has a voice, but it is not being spoken loud enough. Until the church raises its voice to condemn and express disapproval, [for] bad behaviours among our leaders, we cannot attain a system where accountability will exist. A lot of you all know this quote, it says ‘silence gives consent’. A lack of response to an action is a tactic approval of that action,” Mr Chalwell said.
He added that the Men’s Ministry is encouraging all to pray for the leaders, so that they may consult with God to make the right decisions for the country.
The candidate line-up at the forum
included, from left: incumbent Seventh District Representative Dr the
Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, who is also the Premier and Minister of
Finance; Independent Seventh District Candidate Perline R.
Scatliffe-Leonard; Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable
Marlon A. Penn, the incumbent representative for the Eighth District;
and the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate in the Eighth District Mr
L. Allen Wheatley.
'Put country above self'
“The leaders need to remember, God and the people are watching…So pull up your socks and put the country above self,” he urged.
The event, which was broadcasted live on the church’s Facebook page, generated a lot of views and comments on the social media site.
During the forum the church pinned this comment in the chat:
“As Kingdom Citizens, we have much to bring to politics- a deeper commitment to justice and compassion which throughout history has made a difference in the political sphere. At CWC COGOP Long Look, we endorse the education of VI voters to make prayerful, informed decisions!”.
The candidate line-up at the forum included incumbent Seventh District Representative Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, who is also the Premier and Minister of Finance; Independent Seventh District Candidate Perline R. Scatliffe-Leonard; Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Marlon A. Penn, the incumbent representative for the Eighth District; and the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate in the Eighth District Mr L. Allen Wheatley.
