Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

Crime, homosexuality and governmental neglect were among the top issues discussed by religious leaders at a prayer breakfast for the city of Montego Bay, yesterday morning.

Drawn from a wide cross section of religious groups under the auspices of the Montego Bay Prayer Breakfast Group (MBPBG), the leaders met at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort to pray and make intercessions for the city and the nation.

"Creator of heaven and earth, we present Jamaica before you now. You see what is happening in our island home, man's inhumanity to man, destruction, hate, ungodliness, murders, adultery, fornication, lesbianism, homosexuality, Lord have mercy on Jamaica," prayed brother Lester Thomas, retired pastor and member of the MBPBG board.

"Lord, I present to you the Government and the Opposition. These men and women have the responsibility to look after the interests of the citizens of Jamaica, (instead) we see neglect (and) we see selfishness. Oh Lord, have mercy upon our leaders," he continued.

"In our church Lord, we have many homosexuals and lesbians. Oh Lord, have mercy on your church. We pray Lord for Montego Bay, for the citizenship of Jamaica, have mercy upon Montego Bay Lord. You see the murders, you see all these schemes that are going around destroying these families. Have mercy on the gunmen. Lord have mercy we pray thee."

Community leaders chided

Deputy Mayor for Montego Bay, Cecil Davis, who was also present, chided civic and community leaders for their failure to rally together against the scourge of crime, violence, corruption and moral decay.

"We must admit brothers and sisters that we, the watchmen of the city, have been complacent with our stewardship," he said. "We need greater input from the business community."

Celebrating its 19th year, the theme of this year's breakfast was 'Love In Action'.

The guest speaker for the event was the Reverend Dr. Howard K.A. Gregory, Anglican Bishop of Montego Bay. He charged the attendees to remember that the "love of God is non-existent without love of neighbour."