Politics has sunk to a new low in SVG

Editor: It is with a sad heart that I write to you about the level to which our politics has sunk. I am still in a state of shock that political expediency could trump the good name of St Vincent and the Grenadines; that those desperate to gain political advantage would attempt to sacrifice a man and his family at the altar of hunger for power.{{more}}

I am reminded of Matthew chapter 6, verses 9-13, which instruct Christians how to pray to God. Verse 12 specifically states “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” I am also reminded of John chapter 8, verse 7, “”He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

These simple verses speak loudly to Vincentians on how to process this unfortunate and repugnant piece of our political history. Firstly, Matthew asks us to forgive the sinful perpetrators who released these tapes and sinned against the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines by throwing a dark cloud over the country with this nasty piece of electioneering. Matthew also calls on the victims in the recordings to forgive the political devils. Matthew instructs us that we, who are all sinners, cannot get forgiveness from God unless we first forgive those who sin against us.

Secondly, John teaches us that we cannot ourselves cast stones at the people who are alleged to be in the recordings, as none of us are any less sinful than they. When we allow pride, greed, anger, jealousy, fornication, adultery, lies, impatience, laziness, or gluttony to stain our daily lives, how are we to think that these people are less deserving of God’s grace?

We must not reward this evil political strategy with our votes. If we are to punish the victims of this nasty gutter politics, then we must also punish all the other sinners on both sides of the political divide and ourselves. To do otherwise would make us as hypocritical as the Scribes and Pharisees that Jesus encountered.

We must all get down on our knees and pray for our country. We must beseech God to bring justice for the victims of this sleazy political act. We must pray for the souls of those who care more about political power than the good name of the country. We must also on December 9th vote for the party whose policies are best suited to develop our nation. To do otherwise is to reward evil with evil.

House Bound