PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

A Grenadian Spiritual Baptist archbishop has said the absence of Baptists preaching the word of God on the streets has contributed to the increase in violence among young people of the Caribbean.

Ambassador at Large of the Universal Ecclesiastical Order of Spiritual Baptists, John Noel, criticised Caribbean Baptists, saying too many of them were staying in the churches and taking off their headwraps because they were ashamed of their religion.

"We are at a junction in the Spiritual Baptists experience where, because of the absence of Spiritual Baptists on the street, crime is increasing. We need to take back the street corners. We need to take back the ears and minds of the youths," Noel said.