by Linda Straker
- PM Mitchell did not attend interdenominational church serviceas
- Pastor Isaac said people should be mindful of destructive nature of political tribalism
- Lennox Andrews, Acting Prime Minister, deliver first reading of the Gospel
Delivering the homily at the interdenominational church service as part of Independence activities for 2026, Pastor Enoch Isaac told the service that Grenada cannot move forward divided by politics, status, religion or class, but through faith, which calls for citizens to reconcile.
“We cannot move forward divided by religion or class, faith calls us to reconciliation while purpose calls us to collaboration,” he said when delivering the homily at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, 1 February 2026.
Speaking on the topic Transforming the Spice Isle, Pastor Isaac, who is a religious leader with the Seventh Day Adventist faith, told the people that they should be mindful of the destructive nature of political tribalism.
“Political scientists describe this as an intense loyalty to a political group, often prioritising group loyalty over objective truth on national interest; it views the other side as immoral enemies rather than legitimate opponents,” he said, explaining that political tribalism gives rise to hostility and degrading others. “When that exists in a nation, in a community, we just see what we want to see. We don’t consider facts, we don’t consider what is true; in fact, we say truth is relative, and we support our group, our party, our side irrespective of if they are wrong,” he said, calling for such loyalty to be put aside because it will destroy the nation.
Recommending that parents should raise children grounded in values and leaders must govern with humility, integrity, honesty and accountability, Pastor Isaac said, “Our churches must be the moral compass of our nation.” “We shall not be silent or fearful but loving, ever conscious of God. So, as we pursue this transformative agenda, as we think and plan the transformation of the Spice Isle, we must do so ever conscious of God. I want it to stay in our minds, this phrase that we repeat ever conscious of God.”
“True transformation starts with the spiritual transformation of citizens,” he told the church service, which was broadcast live on social media platforms of the Government Information Service. Governor General Dame Cecile La Grenade, several government ministers and opposition members of parliament, police officers, and senior civil servants attended the church service.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell was scheduled to deliver the first reading of the gospel, but was not in attendance as he travelled to Dubai for a conference. Lennox Andrews, who is the Acting Prime Minister, did the reading.
