March 11, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Facing the challenges of COVID-19 with a Spirit of Togetherness

The Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) takes note of the fact that COVID-19 is now here. We need, therefore, as responsible citizens and Christians to intensify and increase efforts that can minimize its potential impact on each of us.

By now, we would all be conscious of what some of these recommendations are, which, simply put, call for us to be disciplined and sensitive in our everyday lives and activities. It behoves us to exercise great discipline in our personal hygiene and to adopt appropriate self-management measures if we think we might be affected.

The JBU urges all stakeholders: government, opposition, private sector, civil society, church etc. to view this as our singular area of priority at this time and to pool our resources in navigating this threat. We encourage calm and composure so that fear, panic and anxiety will not cripple our people and economy in the face of this danger.

Let us especially remember the vulnerable of our society for whom even the basic precautionary steps will be a challenge. We speak of the thousands who are without access to consistent potable water supply, those who will be unable to access our health services and to secure even basic commodities because of the panic purchasing and hoarding being triggered by fear. Ours is the responsibility to place the welfare of our children, elderly, unwell and marginalised at the centre of our response efforts.

This crisis may well provide us with an opportunity to rediscover and reaffirm some key intangibles of communities. In the words of an unidentified commentator, “let’s meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing”.

Friends, we know that ‘this too shall pass’ and so we pray God’s wisdom and enabling grace as we face the future.

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