In a significant policy announcement, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has pledged governmental support for establishing religious-oriented institutions, including a values-based educational facility and a faith-driven financial cooperative. The declaration came during her keynote address at the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Christmas gathering on December 4 at the Couva Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce.
Addressing attendees, Persad-Bissessar framed her return to leadership as divinely guided, quoting biblical scripture James 1:17 to emphasize her perception of divinely bestowed responsibility. She articulated that her administration stands ready to evaluate formal proposals for both a church-administered school emphasizing Christian moral formation and a credit union operating on faith-based principles aimed at community economic empowerment.
The Prime Minister specifically commended FGBMFI for its extensive outreach efforts, noting their nationwide prayer crusades, crisis support programs for vulnerable families, and ministry extensions into correctional facilities and workplaces. She characterized the organization as a crucial stabilizing force during what she described as ‘a decade of hardship and escalating violence,’ praising their role in reinforcing the nation’s ethical and spiritual underpinnings.
Persad-Bissessar connected these initiatives to broader national objectives, stating that communities founded on ‘faith, discipline and opportunity’ are essential for building a more resilient and compassionate society. She extended an official invitation to the organization to submit detailed plans for governmental review, promising ‘appropriate care and diligence’ in evaluating potential implementations.
Concluding with seasonal reflections, the Prime Minister called for renewed commitments to integrity and service, invoking Luke 2:14 to underscore her message of peace and goodwill. She expressed confidence that such faith-anchored institutions could substantially contribute to national moral strengthening and community development.