Dear Editor,

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Jamaica joins in expressing condolence on the passing of Ian Boyne, an outstanding person who was not afraid to share his views about the joys of our island as well as the challenges that are threatening to tear apart the bonds of unity in our island home.

For over 30 years Bahá’ís have had a meaningful and friendly relationship with Ian.

During the 1980s he sat in study sessions in the homes of two Bahá’í families where he probed the history of the Bahá’í Faith and the teachings of Baha’u’llah, the manifestation of God for this day. The discussions were engaging, challenging, educational, uplifting, spirited. It was this search for religious truth that during the 80s and 90s he wrote and published in the print media articles on the Bahá’í Faith, including ‘Oneness is the Word’ (October 1986) and ‘Jamaica: A Baha’i Dream’ (August 1987).

He was fearless. He researched, came to his conclusions, and shared his findings without fear of backlash from any section of the society.

Over these years he interviewed many Bahá’ís for the programme Profile, starting with an interview with Glenford Mitchell from Brighton, St Elizabeth, who became a member of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body for the worldwide Bahá’í community. He included Bahá’ís for the Religious Hardtalk interviews both on the radio and then on television.

Responding to conversation with one of us in a note of November 6, 2017, he wrote: “…LOL, I will certainly be in touch about taping a show with your suggested guests. Ian.”

God had other plans for him. Ian Boyne was a special person. The manner in which he served this country was exemplary. He opened doors for Jamaicans from all strata to share their inspiring stories with the nation. He assisted in exploring the different religions whose tenets are observed and practised by different groups in Jamaica.

As a person who inspired and contributed to empowering individuals to lift themselves and to become achievers, he will be greatly missed.

We pray that his soul will be covered by this Bahá’í prayer: “I ask of Thee by the splendour of the orb of thy revelation, mercifully to accept from him that which he hath achieved in Thy days. Grant then that he may be invested with the glory of Thy good pleasure and adorned with Thine acceptance.”

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Ja

208 Mountain View Avenue, St Andrew

nsajam@gmail.com