Bishop Simeon Hall - Senior Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church says that he welcomes the issue of regularising web shops being put to Bahamians ...in the form of a referendum

Baptist Bishop Supports Regularising Web Shops- Town Hall Meeting On Gambling Tonight

By Korvell Pyfrom
The Bahama Journal


As the government gears up to hold a referendum to further explore regularising the web shop industry, a leading pastor said he welcomes the issue being put to Bahamians in the form of a referendum.

New Covenant Baptist Church Senior Pastor Bishop Simeon Hall said although it is the Church’s position to oppose any steps toward immorality, he has formed a pragmatic position on the issue of regularising web shops.

Bishop Hall said that the reality is that the practice has been happening for years and by not regularising the industry, the government continues to lose millions of dollars in revenue annually.

“Mostly, the people who gamble are those already marginalised with chronic financial and social problems. Yet, I believe the government is correct in seeking to regularise this industry and all that is involved in this trade should be exposed,” Bishop Hall said.

Bishop Hall said that even though the church and the government may have opposing views on the issue, dialogue between the two must continue and he added that both sides have very compelling reasons for their positions.

“I believe that the church’s position is clear. What do you expect the church to say other than we are against it? In principal most clergy people would be against it,” he said. “But it is a multifaceted approach on the one hand, the church is saying we are against it, but on the other hand, we recognise that government cannot just allow these practices and this industry to go on without collecting some form of tax or revenue from it.”

“I believe it is right for the government to put the issue out to the Bahamian people to see where we stand. Both the government and web shop owners have a responsibility to educate the Bahamian people on all sides about gambling. Gambling in our Bahamas is as common as conch fritters. There are some Bahamians who will continue to gamble regardless of what the outcome of the proposed referendum would be. The government is in a tenable position to regularise this multi-million dollar enterprise.”

Bishop Hall will moderate a town hall meeting on the issue of regularising web shops at New Covenant Baptist Church on East-West Highway tonight at 7:30.

Panelists will include Pastor Cedric Moss, Gaming Board Chairman Dr. Andre Rollins, Attorney Wallace Rolle and Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner.

Members of the public are invited to attend.

31 July, 2012

Jones Bahamas

Caribbean Blog International

Bishop Simeon Hall appeals to the homosexual community to seek help so that they can play their God ordained role in our communities already distressed with crime, social distress and disorder

Hall: Homosexuals must not be demonized

By Royston Jones Jr
Guardian Staff Reporter
royston@nasguard.com



Baptist Bishop Simeon Hall said yesterday that homosexuals ought not to be demonized by homophobic clergy, but they, like anyone else, should be invited to the church to, “experience the transforming power of God.”

“Over the last three days, three young men contacted me since I made this statement to all those with a sexual orientation to seek help,” said Hall at a Rotary Club of West Nassau luncheon at Graycliff.

“One of these men came to my office on Tuesday evening, the other on Wednesday and the other has an appointment.

“Their painful and sordid stories were frightening, but my response to them was pastoral.” In a statement on Monday, Hall urged homosexuals to seek help to turn away from their “non-productive and deadly practice”.

Hall said yesterday, “I do not demonize anyone, their sexual preference notwithstanding. “But what I find disturbing is men absent, men unable to take care and provide for their families, men dying and leaving children to fend for themselves and men infecting their partners with HIV/AIDS.

“All this negatively contributes to a society already on the edge of disintegration.” Hall claimed that the sexual practice of men who have sex with men (MSMs) is negatively impacting the growth and development of The Bahamas.

“If this sexual practice [has led] to an increase of 14 percent of our men contracting HIV/AIDS, then it is clear that this practice, which, by the way, can produce nothing, is now...deadly and is a threat to our national infrastructure.”

Hall released his statement on Monday in response to a Nassau Guardian article that revealed that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas among MSMs is near 14 percent, which is nearly double the eight percent documented in 2008 by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

“All over this nation leaders are crying about the absence of men; the church, the schools [and] young women looking for strong male men to marry them,” Hall said yesterday.

“My appeal, therefore, is to the homosexual community to seek help so that they can play their God ordained role in our communities already distressed with crime, social distress and disorder.”

The Government of The Bahamas is co-sponsoring the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference at Atlantis
Resort. The conference opens today and ends Monday.

Nov 18, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

Bishop Simeon Hall appeals to to homosexuals in The Bahamas to "seek help" and turn away from "deadly, abnormal sexual practices"

Bishop urges gay men to 'seek help'


By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net


BISHOP Simeon Hall, senior pastor at New Covenant Baptist Church, is appealing to homosexuals to "seek help" and turn away from "deadly, abnormal sexual practices".

Quoting statistics from a local newspaper, Bishop Hall said that in the Bahamas the number of men contracting AIDS because of homosexual practices has doubled in the past few years.

"According to Dr. Perry Gomez, director of the National HIV/AIDS programme, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Bahamas with men is near 14 per cent, nearly double the 8 per cent documented in 2008 in the Joint United National programme on HIV/AIDS," he said.

"Homosexuality, like lesbianism, is anti-family and it goes against what God has ordained. This sexual practice cannot produce anything and now we are seeing that, according to statistics, it is deadly."

Bishop Hall said he is not trying to demonise homosexuals, but rather help them to seek help.
"I wish to affirm that homosexuals and lesbians are human beings just like everyone else. I do not demonise them, but I hurriedly urge them to seek help and turn away from this non-productive deadly practice."

Erin Green, spokesperson for the Gay Lesbian Bi-sexual and Transgender community (GBLT) said it is ignorant to think that homosexuality is the cause of the HIV/AIDS increase in the Bahamas.

"I invite Bishop Hall to attend the Caribbean HIV conference this weekend, where he, along with other Bahamians, can engage in activities and expel these myths that are so prevalent in Bahamian society," she said.

"It is dangerous to believe homosexuality equals AIDS. As a country we need to educate ourselves, not only AIDS/HIV, but also homosexuality."

According to the latest statistics, adult HIV prevalence in The Bahamas is among the highest in the Caribbean at 3.3 per cent. AIDS is also still a leading cause of death among Bahamian men and women, aged 15-44.

The disease occurs primarily among heterosexuals - approximately 87 per cent - although under-reporting by men who have sex with men remains a challenge.

The 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference will be held at the Atlantis resort, November 18 to 21, under the theme "Strengthening Evidence To Achieve Sustainable Action."

The conference is expected to attract 2,000-2,500 participants and will highlight scientific research findings, implementation lessons learned, skills-building tools, and networking opportunities.

November 15, 2011

tribune242

Caribbean Blog International

Bishop Simeon Hall has called on all politicians to resist the temptation of turning the controversial issue of capital punishment into a “political football”

Hall: Capital punishment should not be political football


KRYSTEL ROLLE
Guardian Staff Reporter
thenassauguardian
krystel@nasguard.com



As the national debate on the issue of capital punishment continues, a religious leader has called on all politicians to resist the temptation of turning the controversial issue into a “political football”.

Bishop Simeon Hall’s comments came in a statement yesterday. Hall is the former chairman of the National Advisory Council on Crime (NACC). One of its key recommendations was for the resumption of capital punishment.

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Perry Christie declared his party’s support for capital punishment Saturday night and promised to carry out the law if the PLP wins the next general election. Christie was speaking at the PLP’s Eastern Region Constituencies Conclave.

Hall said Bahamians must examine what each party did on the issue while in office rather than the “political rhetoric they espouse” during the pre-election period.

“To be frank, the record shows that both major political parties have been reserved on capital punishment,” said Hall.
No hangings were carried out under the PLP administration led by Christie.

The last time capital punishment was carried out in The Bahamas was on January 6, 2000 when David Mitchell was hanged. Five of the 50 men hanged in The Bahamas since the 1920s were hanged under the FNM between 1997 and 2002; 13 were hanged during the 25-year rule of the late Sir Lynden Pindling; and the remaining 32 were executed between 1929 and 1967.

With nearly 80 murders having been recorded already this year, The Bahamas is likely to set a forth murder record in five years this year. Hall called for cross-party efforts to address the crime problem.

“The progress against the criminal mayhem, which presently confronts us, will only take place when a by-partisan national approach is created and executed by all in power,” Hall said.

During the conclave on Saturday, Christie pledged to take bold action to reduce the crime rate in the country if he is re-elected.

“No effort will be spared to restore the safety of our streets and homes,” he said.

“An urgent priority for the next government is the battle against crime. There is fear on our streets.”

In the run-up to the 2007 general election, the Christie Administration was criticized over the crime issue by the Free National Movement, which was in opposition at the time.

Jul 26, 2011

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International