The local Baha'i community observed its fourth annual National Baha'i Day yesterday with the launch of an exhibition at its Mountain View Avenue headquarters in St. Andrew.
Guest speaker at the launch, Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie said at a time when Jamaicans are losing faith in politicians and the traditional church, the Baha'i message of spirituality and racial unity should be emulated.
SOCIAL TOLERANCE
"We have always depended on the traditional churches to create the foundation for moral respect and social tolerance. However, we are concerned that the traditional churches seem to have lost their voices lately when it comes to the issue of morality," said the mayor. "And since the politicians are not considered to have the moral authority, it is the newer churches and religions like the Baha'i and their refreshingly new view of morality to which we must turn."
Dorothy Whyte, of the Baha'i organisation in Jamaica, estim-ates that there are "a few thousand" members of the faith locally.
Malcolm King, a Jamaican who had lived in the United States for several years.
The history of the Baha'i in Jamaica, as well as the religion's concept, are the focus of the exhibition which will also be shown at the Port Antonio Public Library until July 31.
