KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — President of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, Pastor Glen O Samuels, has called for the collaboration of the Government and the church, along with leadership in all sectors of the country, in creating a national campaign against violence and corruption.

Addressing the 36th annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, in New Kingston, today, the pastor called on the gathering of political, civic, corporate, religious and community leaders to develop a national programme, aimed at mending “the broken parts of our social order”, by mentoring and motivating the youth of the nation.

The event, hosted under the patronage of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and organised by the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee, was held under the theme: ‘Righteousness Exalts the Nation’.

“Righteousness that exalts a nation demands that we stand together on the issue of crime and violence…which has destroyed the creative and productive potential (of the country),” Pastor Samuels said.

He emphasised that all citizens must take responsibility for nation-building, and urged political leaders to unite for peace.

“Could we have in Jamaica, an anti-violence rally, where members of all political sides can stand on the same platform, speak with the same voice saying ‘enough of violence, enough of corruption’?” Samuels said.

He further noted that the Christian church in Jamaica, through its education, health and social services has the capacity to positively impact the lives of citizens, and urged the leadership of the church to seek creative ways to utilise the available skills-set for transformation.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Andrew Holness, along with a number of other political leaders and members of the diplomatic corps, attended the event.