Morality is Rooted in the Family …Says PM Golding

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, has noted that Government is doing what it can to enforce laws, but values must come from the home.
“We are facing a crisis, but the greatest crisis has nothing to do with what is happening in the global financial markets. Our greatest crisis is a crisis of values…We can pass laws to punish, but morality must come from the people, it is rooted in the family. Our (Jamaican) values must be formed and defined by Christian principles and values.”
Mr. Golding was speaking at a Prayer and Restorative Service at the National Arena this afternoon (March 4). The Prime Minister said that Jamaica was a land of hope and that we live in an era of freedom of choice, but there were still fundamental principles of right and wrong.
“We have got to the stage where we shape and define values to suit ourselves…When we are assured that every child born has a loving mother and father who teach love and pass on values of right and wrong, then we will not need to ban songs from airwaves,” Prime Minister Golding said.
In his address, the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Dr Patrick Allen noted that the call for restoration to traditional values must include action as well as prayer for a just society.
“We have become separated from our traditional values, morals and customs and these have negatively affected our normal way of life…We must also work to establish a just society in which each citizen will feel part of an inclusive system of opportunities and development for all,” said the Governor-General.
Organised by the Power of Faith Ministries, St Catherine and Portmore, the service was held at the National Arena under the theme, “Heal the Family, Heal the Nation”. The service featured Church leaders praying for the safety of the family, business community, security forces, medical and legal professionals and political leaders.
The service was also attended by the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie and the Mayor of Portmore, Keith Hinds.