Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer

WALDERSTON, Manchester:

Thousands of Seventh-day Adventists from across the Caribbean heard the head of their worldwide organisation Pastor Jan Paulsen gives Jamaica 'thumbs up' as a nation whose form of governance is worthy of partnership with the denomination.

Pastor Paulsen was delivering the keynote address and sermon at the centennial thanksgiving service of the Northern Caribbean University in a packed gymnatorium on Saturday.

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a spiritual agenda and we preach a lot about eternity, but we are also concerned about the quality of life that people live," he said. "We must show that we care about people including the outcast and that there is freedom of conscience and religion, which is a God given right to every man woman, and child."

Continuing, the head of the 50 million strong worldwide group sought to assure that the Adventist Church would partner with the Government.

Pastor Paulsen congratulated the NCU on its 100-year milestone and offered special kudos to the team of students who earned worldwide recognition for excelling in computer technology in the Imagine Cup competition.

NCU highlights

Established in 1907 as the West Indian Training School at the Willowdene Estate near Bog Walk, St. Catherine.

Relocated to Mandeville in August 1919.

Upgraded to the West Indian Training College 1936

Named changed to West Indies College in 1959.

First batch of nursing students graduated 1970 with bachelor's degree.

June 24, 1999 West Indies College received as Charter from the Government of Jamaica to operate as the Northern Caribbean University, with the fist doctorate programme administered in education in 2002.