J’cans urged to ‘return to God’ as Workers’ Week gets underway
Published:Tuesday | May 20, 2025 | 12:06 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
In a stirring address to mark the launch of Workers’ Week 2025, Bishop Courtney Golding of the Pentecostal Gospel Temple called for Jamaicans to embrace spiritual renewal, cultural decency, and environmental responsibility as a national duty.
Speaking during a special service at the Portmore Holiness Christian Church on Sunday, Golding linked the observance of Workers’ Week to a broader moral imperative, encouraging citizens to “return to God” and preserve Jamaica’s identity and natural heritage.
Under the theme ‘Protect the Environment: Our Land, Our Duty, Our Future’ and subthemed ‘Jamaica Nice – Protect our Paradise’, the bishop said the country stands at a “spiritual, cultural, and societal crossroads”.
He warned that declining national values are eroding the country’s identity and contributing to environmental degradation.
“We are bombarded daily with sermons from the World Wide Web,” he said. “Our children are absorbing in one day what took us 20 years to learn. But what values are they learning?”
Golding expressed concern over the erosion of basic civility and etiquette in society.
“We’ve stopped saying ‘Good morning’, ‘Please’, and ‘Thank you’. We no longer open doors with respect or wear our pants properly. If we’re not careful, we’ll lose our Jamaican way,” he said.
Linking the decay of social values to environmental neglect, Golding emphasised the need for personal responsibility.
“People ask what [do] values have to do with the environment – everything!” he declared, quoting Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation.”
He urged the Ministry of Education and Parliament to reinforce values in schools and communities.
“It’s still nice to be clean, still nice to live a good, godly life,” he said.
Drawing from his own childhood, he recalled simple yet powerful lessons on cleanliness and order.
“We were not allowed to start school if there was trash on the ground. We learnt to clean up after ourselves, just like children still do in Japan today.”
He also challenged the tendency to shift blame, saying, “It’s not just the garbage man’s job. We all grew up knowing it’s everyone’s responsibility to care for Jamaica.”
Citing Jamaica’s high number of churches per square mile, he reminded the congregation that “cleanliness is still godliness”, and “the earth is the Lord’s”.
MORAL APPEAL
He concluded with a moral appeal.
“We must still teach our children not to kill. We must protect and nurture our young. Jamaica still belongs to the Lord, and we must return to Him to preserve our future.”
Also addressing the congregation, State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dr Norman Dunn, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to workers’ rights, skills development, and fair wages. He hailed the contributions of Jamaica’s 1.4 million active workers and honoured labour pioneers such as Hugh Shearer, Sir Alexander Bustamante, and Norman Manley.
Dunn emphasised the spiritual and national value of work, while calling for unity, faith, and inclusive policies to guide the nation forward.
Scripture readings were delivered by Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams, representing the prime minister, and Opposition Leader Mark Golding.