June 1, 2020

Communications Minister Meets With Church Leaders To Discuss Reopening

By Newsroom

With religious services having been banned for nearly three months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Communications Donna Cox is asking church leaders to have just a bit more patience until their congregation can gather together.

Cox, who is also an ordained religious minister, met with three representatives of the church  on Monday, who wanted to share their views and biblical perspective on the closure of the church in a time of COVID-19.

Pastor Johann Blackman of Enterprise Bible Baptist Church, Pastor James Hoffmeister of Charity Baptist Church and Pastor Keith Lovelace of Trinity Baptist Church praised the Government for its handling of the pandemic and thanked Minister Cox for what they described as her timely and positive response to their request for a meeting.

There was no indication in the press release issued, of any other religious group being in attendance at the meeting.

The group said churches in Trinidad and Tobago are anxious to return to fellowship in their traditional way, but are cognizant that they must be concerned about the physical health of their congregations.

Minister Cox reassured them that the Government values the important role churches and other religious institutions play in the society but reminded them that public health measures are in place to protect everyone.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced that churches will be allowed to re-open on June 22nd  once there is no worrisome change in Trinidad and Tobago’s infection rates.

“I know exactly what you are missing because I am missing it too. But our need to get back into our places of worship cannot override the greater need to slow the spread of the virus,” she told the group.


She thanked the churches for their patience and resilience thus far and urged them to lead by example as the Government continues to ease some of the COVID-19 restrictions.

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