The selection of the president of the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Dr Patrick Allen, as the new governor general of Jamaica is a most retrograde step in the history of Jamaica.

This is a man who has spent many years of his life projecting a particular church doctrine and forsaking all others. This is not what Jamaica needs to unite the nation and its people of various religious persuasions. Pastor Allen may be a good man but he cannot be a good Seventh-day Adventist pastor and not try to spread the teachings of his faith in all his actions and thoughts. Having a religious leader as head of state will clearly result in a blurring of the demarcation between Church and State. No religious leader should ever be made head of state.

Jamaicans will live to regret this ignorant decision. And may heaven help Jamaica should the country need the services of the GG between sunset on Friday and sunset on the Sabbath.

The State should avoid sanctioning any particular religious group, and appointing the head of a sect or religious group is clearly sending the wrong signals.

I am, etc.,

MIKALIS PSORIS

mikalis@mail.ru