‘Don’t mess with the poor!’

Some clergymen yesterday used a special service at the New Life Baptist Church to warn against burdening the poor and other less fortunate persons in the community.

“God says don’t mess with the widow, don’t mess with the fatherless, don’t mess with the poor,” Pastor Calvin Mills told an audience including the territory’s political leaders.

The Church of God Holiness preacher further declared: “God remindeth Israel, you were once alien, you were once in Egypt and you were fed, you were taken care of. So, when the poor come to glean, let them glean. What falls in the corner, leave it for the poor. We must be merciful!”

Another clergyman, Father Walter Mendonco, also appealed for more focus on the ‘suffering’.

“Teach us to be more willing to assist and to be charitable to the sick and the suffering and those who are not strong enough to help themselves emotionally, financially and diverse circumstances,” he said.

Both pastors were speaking yesterday at the second Territorial Service of Thanksgiving and Intercession hosted by the government and the BVI chapter of Aglow International.

Their appeal came a day before Premier and Minister Dr D Orlando Smith announced a $323.1 million budget in the House of Assembly.

He also stated that there will be new fees including an environmental fee to be charged when leaving airport, a cruising fee, and a road maintenance fee.