Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC is seeking to have another promise kept.
This, as she reminded members of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) of their suggestion for there to be more faith-based discipline in our nation’s schools.
The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International in Trinidad and Tobago is a Christian lay organisation for businessmen and part of a global movement focused on evangelism through personal testimonies and spiritual experiences.
Speaking at the Association’s Christmas event on Wednesday, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar pledged to move their proposals forward, emphasising their potential to benefit the nation.
“Last year, I promised you that when God returned us to office, I would support your efforts to establish a church-led school grounded in Christian values, discipline, prayer, and moral formation. I have not forgotten. And secondly, a faith-based financial institution, beginning with perhaps a credit union to empower members of the families and strengthen businesses, small businesses in particular. And therefore, as your Prime Minister today, as I pledged to you last year, today I say I stand firmly committed behind these proposals that we all discussed together. We remain committed to these two pillars that you have asked that we consider.”
The Prime Minister invited the organisation to send detailed proposals in writing so that they may be received and examined with appropriate care and due diligence.
She said the businessmen’s vision for a church-led school reflects a desire to form morally grounded young people, and their interest in a credit union speaks to a commitment to strengthening families and supporting community life.
“These are meaningful aspirations rooted in faith, rooted in responsibility, and rooted in service. They reflect the kind of nation we will all seek to build. Together, such initiatives can help create communities founded on faith, discipline, and opportunity, which remain essential to a stronger and more compassionate Trinidad and Tobago.”
The Prime Minister noted that she will ensure that they get a fair hearing when they send their proposal.
She also revealed that she runs her Cabinet by putting prayer and faith first: “Put God in front and walk behind. That has been my motto and my mantra and up to today now, dated all the years back as your Prime Minister, we still, in our Cabinet, start every Cabinet meeting, some of my Cabinet ministers say every Cabinet meeting started with a word of prayer. Every Cabinet meeting. So we put God in front, and we walk behind.”