The REVEREND Dr Roderick Hewitt yesterday called for tougher laws against corrupt officials in both the public and private sectors, while another minister made an impassioned plea for politicians involved in crime to repent.

Pointing to inequity in the society, Hewitt charged that the rich and "politically powerful" escape sanctions for corrupt acts, while other Jamaicans were brought to book.

evil pervading the land

Speaking at the 29th annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, Hewitt told the audience that there was an entrenched and multifaceted evil pervading the land.

The Hope United Church pastor, who selected a text from Jeremiah for his message, said many were chasing the "dishonest dollar".

He charged that the twin forces of greed and selfishness that give rise to corruption had taken up permanent residence in the land.

Taking aim at corruption, the preacher argued that scarce resources to develop the country and to assist the poor were being siphoned off by corrupt officials.

Commendable work

He hailed Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker and Contractor General Greg Christie for the work they have been doing to weed out corruption in the country.

"Ordinary people must begin to see corrupt officials being held accountable, white-collar officials, not the little man on the corner alone," he said to resounding applause.

He encouraged the Government to launch a major campaign against corruption with the same urgency as if it were fighting a deadly infectious disease.

At the same time, the Church was not spared the verbal wrath of the preacher.

He rebuked members of the clergy who led their flocks astray in an attempt to reap big financial gains from the unregulated investment schemes.

Duty to teach

Hewitt said the shepherds had a duty to teach their parishioners how to save their earnings.

"That's the gospel we should be telling our people, (rather) than looking for quick interest over 10 per cent like you working obeah in the financial sector," he added.

Many of the so-called alternative investment schemes crashed last year.

According to Hewitt, sections of the church community fused their "designer prosperity gospel" with a corrupt financial system built on greed and deception.

In a prayer for the nation, Minister Blossom White, from the Tower Hill Missionary Church, gave a moving invocation for the country's children who were being abused and killed.

She led a prayer for a group of children from troubled communities who attended the prayer breakfast.

White called on politicians who might have contributed to acts of crime and violence in the society to repent. She said the repentance would pave the way for healing and forgiveness in the nation.