As a PM, Kamla Persad wanted to start first-ever Shouter Baptist secondary school

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar stated that she felt hope, inspiration from Spiritual Baptists. She said, 'we are all God's children. Persad said this during the Spiritual Baptist community day celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago.

Persad-Bissessar, accompanied by United National Congress Deputy Political Leader Jearlean John and Moruga Member of Parliament Michelle Benjamin, attended yesterday's Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day thanksgiving at the Moruga Multi-Purpose Youth and Sports Facility.

Speaking at the event, Persad-Bissessar told those in attendance she herself had been baptized as a Baptist in her youth. She said she is often able to find comfort in religious music and practices.

"I was not born a Baptist, but I was blessed and privileged to be baptized as a Baptist on Quinam Beach as a child. I have never regretted that decision, as I have always felt great hope and inspiration with the Spiritual Baptist people," she stated.

"Up to now, when I am really troubled... you can go to church and attend the various services. I love that song because when we sing how awesome wonder my Lord, how great thou art, how great thou art, it touches my heart," she further emphasized.

She said as a politician; she was grateful to be a part of the decision to recognize Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day under the leadership of former prime minister Basdeo Panday.

In addition to this, she said, she had been part of the decision to distribute lands to the community and, later, under the People's Partnership government, construct the first Spiritual Baptist primary school.

"I was happy to say, not boastfully, but maybe it was that upbringing that I had, and your entire upbringing shapes what you are and what you do, maybe that is why when we formed the government with Mr Panday, way back when in the day, I was very happy to join with my colleagues in the Parliament to ensure that the Spiritual Shouter Baptists had a holiday, a recognition of that day," she noted.

"When I was minister of legal affairs, and still under his (Panday's) instruction, I was able to work with the state department to prepare the land deeds to give the lands of Maloney to the Spiritual Shouter Baptists. Do you all remember that,".

"When I was the prime minister, I had the pleasure and the honor to help build the first-ever primary Shouter Baptist school and to build thereafter the first-ever Shouter Baptist early childhood care and education school,".

She said, as a Prime Minister, her plan was to build the first-ever Shouter Baptist secondary school.

Persad-Bissessar added that she felt deeply connected to the community and denounced its prohibition in 1917 by the then-colonial government.

She said since the lifting of this prohibition, the community has used its voice to uplift and inspire the country. 'I join you to celebrate the end of one of the greatest injustices ever done in our country, and it was done by the law, as we all know, the Shouter Baptist Prohibition Ordinance of 1917, which denied your fathers the opportunity to worship.

"You were right to worship in your faith. As you do today in the Spiritual Baptist community, warm greetings, this is a day we celebrate the ability of you and people like you and all of us to not only practice your faith but share the wisdom of your faith."

"Many times, we tend to focus and think about how this day came about, but I think now, after all these years, there is a greater joy in knowing the enrichment of the Spiritual Baptist community that you have brought to the nation,".