CONTROVERSIAL clergyman Reverend Al Miller used a national broadcast on Sunday to call on Jamaicans to unite in an effort to “hurdle” the nation’s “obstacles”, as he singled out young people, who he said should shape their own destiny and create the society in which they want to live.

“This is the land of our birth. Let’s not leave it to evil or negative forces to trample it. Let’s take it back, change it and make it great for all. The good citizens far outweigh the bad. With God’s help, we can do all things if we stand up, unite and act now,” Miller kicked off his message broadcast on TVJ.

“Youths,” Miller said, “you are the strength of the society. Stand and take responsibility and create positive change. You must help to build the Jamaica you want to live in. You must take responsibility to shape your destiny and that of your nation. …Let us create a new and better Jamaica.”

Miller, who heads the mega church Fellowship Tabernacle, said that the power to change the status quo rests “with us, notwithstanding what is happening on the international scene”.

“We do not have to live with murder, crime and injustice as our daily diet. We do not have to live with fear, hopelessness and frustration as primary emotions for most our citizens. We do not have to live with inequality, disrespect and oppression of the poor. We do not have to live with the lack of opportunity for our youth.”

He added: “We are at a crossroads, and must now choose our fate. It cannot be business as usual while our nation and people suffer. Prayer must be accompanied by work and the willingness to be part of the answers to our prayers.

“Neither history nor heaven must record that in a time of crisis we did nothing outside the ordinary. Our nation needs us now.”

The clergyman said also that the time has come to be independent mentally, socially, economically, and politically, while adding that “independence is taking responsibility”.

In his call for change, Miller pointed out that for too long “we have allowed fear and pride to cripple correct action and have allowed economics and expediency to override principles”.