The Editor, Sir:

I write regarding the front page headline 'Bartlett urged to try religious tourism' (The Gleaner, January 18).

The prayer breakfast held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel had the Rev. Dr. Roy Notice lambasting the tourism product, casino gambling, and challenging Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, whom he knew to be of Pentecostal background, "to engage us in more meaningful things".

Rev. Dr. Roy Notice suggested the benefits of religious tourism that could transform Jamaica into the conference mecca of the Caribbean.

While Mecca is a place that attracts many visitors, Mecca, itself, is the capital of Saudi Arabia (with Riyadh) - a place where Muslims from all over the world visit on pilgrimage as the birthplace of Muhammad.

Perhaps Rev. Dr. Notice meant the 'Jerusalem' of the Caribbean. After all, Jamaica has more churches per square mile than the rest of the Caribbean.

Of other faiths

Can the good Reverend be suggesting Islamic religious tourism? How many Muslims were at the prayer breakfast, and how many members of the Rastafarian faith came, for that matter?

After all, 'Out of Many, One People' does not translate to 'out of many, Christians only'.

Rev. Dr. Notice wants work ethics to be rekindled in Jamaica instead of the get-rich-quick mentality, yet the Church, by its actions, appears to endorse the investment clubs and was ready to start training its pastors on forex trading.

The Church has been mum on matters that affect the very moral fabric of our society directly, viz, unemployment, domestic violence, child abuse, rape, kidnapping, abuse of power by utility and other organisations.

The Church's interest in casino gambling would appear not to be unlike some of the major com-mercial banks' interest in Cash Plus, World Wise and Olint investment clubs.

The ethical code that guides the societal moral values has long been lost to us all and the Church must start from within its walls to rebuild this code.

Unregulated casino gambling businesses (a.k.a. gaming rooms) abide all over Jamaica, and what can be said of them is that they are not the root cause of the escalating crime and violence.

Bringing more revenue

If regulated, the legal entities can bring more revenue to the Government's coffers.

Casino gambling, as proposed by Minister Bartlett, is a 'tourism product' to enhance the enjoyment of 'visitors' to our island, not some yaddah, yaddah cornershop that any and anybody can go to lose their last pay cheque.

The betting and gaming industry would, today, be raking in megabucks for Jamaica, but the Church has fought it down for so long and continues to pray about it.

The good Lord answered their prayers - the then Government of Jamaica granted the lottery licence to private entities instead of starting a national lottery as other countries, including Great Britain, have done.

The Church must be mindful of the format and content of its prayers, because God gives you what you ask for.

When someone else's prayers are answered who asked for what you rejected, do not blame God, government or society.

I am, etc.,

CATHERInE GALMA

TUCKER

info@knowledge- ebooks.com

Via Go-Jamaica