Montego Bay’s Mayor and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Homer Davis has made an impassioned plea for Jamaicans to immediately stop any acts of discrimination being carried out against citizens who have been infected by the Corona Virus, COVID-19.
Addressing a Workers’ Week/Labour Day Church Service at the Faith Temple Assembly of God in Montego Bay on Sunday May 24, 2020, Mayor Davis said it has come to his attention that there have been acts of discrimination against citizens who have contracted and have recovered from COVID-19 and are trying to return to their communities.
Mayor Davis said “today I make an impassioned plea for acts of discrimination against persons who were once COVID-19 positive and are now fully recovered to stop immediately. These are our own Jamaican brothers and sisters and remember anyone can become a victim of COVID-19…a disease which does not know or infect addresses, it infects people at whatever address they live and we all need to remember that illness knows no colour, race or creed. This is a virus who can affect anyone and today I ask that we make a concerted effort to eliminate acts of discrimination as we continue the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19”.
Mayor Davis has called on members of the church community to continue to play their role in seeking divine help in the COVID-19 fight.
He said “I also ask members of the church community to continue to pray without ceasing…We serve a true and wonderful God who remains an on-time God…A God who continues to heal and protect…We are living in a changing world where phrases such as “Social Distance”, “virtual meetings”, “the new normal” and an undying call for us to practice good personal hygiene have become the order of the day.”
In expressing thanks to Bishop Conrad Pitkin, Pastor of the Faith Temple Assembly of God and members of the congregation for allowing the St. James Municipal Corporation the privilege of worshipping at the church, Mayor Davis said the service was arranged at short notice, and that the Corporation was appreciative of the adjustments made to accommodate us…even as we observe the COVID-19 protocol regarding social distance.
Mayor Davis also paid tribute to the hard work being done by Essential Workers to include those from the Ministry of Health under the guidance of the Health Minister and the Prime Minister.
He said “as we salute our workers under the theme “Labour at Home”, we do so against the background of a serious COVID-19 pandemic which is being fought by Jamaica and the world. Today we give great praises to our Lord and Savour for his mercies in helping us thus far in the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19 in St. James and across our country. I must also pay tribute to our Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, our tireless Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton and members of the Health Sector, for their efforts in so far cauterizing the spread of COVID-19.
“I must also give a word of commendation to our Essential Workers to include members of the Security Forces who have not only supported the government’s plan and programme to fight COVID-19, but they have also managed to maintain their focus on keeping us…the citizens of St. James relatively safe. Today, I plea to every Jamaican to continue playing their part in the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19 and the fight against crime. We serve an awesome God…We know that with Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm…This COVID-19 challenge will soon become a thing of the past as we know that our God is an on-time God who will fix this issue at the right time”, Mayor Davis stated.