US PASTOR HITS OUT AT GANJA PROPOSAL AT BISHOP'S INSTALLMENT

A UNITED STATES-based Pentecostal Minister on Saturday called on local
Christians to say no to recommendations to decriminalise the use of
ganja.

At a ceremony to officially recognise and install veteran religious
leader, Reverend Carmen Stewart as Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal
Gospel Temple family of churches, visiting Pentecostal minister,
District Elder A. Glenn Brady, urged Christians, in their wisdom, not
to support the recommendations or any moves to decriminalise marijuana
usage.

Last Thursday, the National Ganja Commission, which discussed cannabis
with societal sectors between November 2000 and July 2001, recommended
that Government should amend relevant laws so that ganja can be used
for private, personal use in small quantities by adults and as part of
religious sacrament.

But while the Ohio-based district elder admitted that there may be
reasons why marijuana should be used, he said decriminalising it would
only be to the detriment of local society. We, who are part of
Christendom, know that such a thing is not according to the scripture,
declared Elder Brady, chairman of overseas-based Godsplode Ministries.
Even if they are allowed to smoke it, where are they going to get it
from? ... (By agreeing), we are saying that we are giving
justification to criminals, he continued, to strong approval from the
hundreds of Pentecostals who braved the grey skies and strong winds
resulting from Tropical Storm Chantal to honour Bishop Stewart.

The local National Council on Drug Abuse and Medical Association of
Jamaica have come out in support of some recommendations but US
government has also expressed disapproval, making it clear last week
that the US administration opposes the decriminalisation of marijuana
use and that the island's final decision would be put under scrutiny.

Reports also suggested that if the recommendations are followed,
Jamaica could also be decertified as a country making efforts to fight
against illegal drugs in accordance with the 1988 UN Convention
Against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Countries which do not receive certification and those which are
decertified lose most of their foreign assistance from the United
States and the US is required to vote against any assistance to that
country from major multilateral funding agencies including the World
Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB).

For her part, an overjoyed Bishop Stewart, one of the few local women
to achieve the title of Bishop in a prominent religious order, used
the opportunity to remind Jamaicans that no honest work is beneath
you. What is beneath you is when your work is questionable. Honest
work is a dignity, she said. I want to charge you to be on your best
behaviour for God.