Bishop Dave Alleyne says every political leader should have the right to have a spiritual adviser. He was speaking about the construction of the controversial church being constructed on state lands in the Heights of Guanapo and the relationship between the Prime Minster and his spiritual adviser. Alleyne said: "Every leader has the right to have a spiritual adviser in some form or the other, once the taxpayers don't have to pay for anything and it remains a private matter. "It is also a good thing to be assured that our leaders take into consideration the spiritual well-being of the nation. I endorse that." However, Alleyne, who heads the Flaming Word Ministry on Caroni Savannah Road, Charlieville, said if that adviser interfered in political issues then he or she should seek to become a political adviser and not a spiritual one.
He pointed out while religious bodies received grants for land, it was important for them to manage their financial affairs internally.
His church, which was established in 1980, has been self-sufficient ever since, he said. He added other bodies should try to do the same instead of seeking assistance from Government. He made it clear though, that if Government chose to provide grants for lands, it should benefit the national community since religious bodies assisted with the spiritual development of the nation. "Care must taken to ensure that these religious organisations are impacting positively in the nation and not just on their own beliefs, but that their plans and projects influence the development of the nation and people from the larger society," Alleyne said.
He urged other religious groups to avoid taking political sides which would make them into political bodies. "My advice is that they should stay clear of that and stick to the moral and spiritual issues," he said. He added born-again Christians have not been treated with the respect they deserved. He said: "We make a positive contribution to the well-being of a nation and a large percentage are evangelical and should be given equal say in the affairs of the nation because we are also members and citizens."