The Editor, Sir:

It is of interest and concern that Dr Patrick Allen has agreed to become the next governor general (GG). He has been described as a devout Seventh-day Adventist Christian.

The role of GG is essentially one in which he has to rubber-stamp the policies and proposed laws of the Government of the day. He does not have much discretion or wiggle room to make his own decisions on matters of government policy and the legislation that will come to him to sign off on and pass into law.

Act according to state

He will have to act according to the advice of the state's premier legal advisers (the attorney general's chambers) and the Privy Council (selected advisers appointed by the GG after consultation with prime minister - Section 82 of the Constitution).

If he declines to so act on the advice given to him by 'man', he will create a constitutional crisis that may cause him to retire or be forced to vacate the office.

The immutable law of God - that of love - that one must not murder, embodying the sanctity of life as set out in the Sixth Commandment (Exodus 20:1-17) will put Dr Allen's supposed devout Christianity in conflict with the present policy of this Government which supports the death penalty.

Exercising mercy

How will Dr Allen then exercise his prerogative of mercy (Section 90-91 of the Constitution) when he is advised by 'man' (the Privy Council)? Would he sign off on the proposed new abortion legislation if it were sent to him to rubber-stamp into law?

The GG represents the Queen who is head of the State of Jamaica (Section 27 of the Constitution).

The long history of kings and queens is that they have been deified (treated as gods by man).

Many of the protocol, pomp, pageantry and traditions of the Queen is historically derived from idolatry, pagan practices and strange, secret or alien cults and societies associated with kingship and the apostate church.

Will Dr Allen be bowing before the present Queen or allowing persons to bow and courtesy before him, thereby following man's traditions and coming in conflict with the First and Second Commandments (one God and the prohibition of bowing to other gods, respectively).

If Dr Allen is a true and faithful practising Adventist, he must obey the law concerning the Sabbath and not the traditions and desires and needs of 'man'.

No work on Sabbath

He cannot, therefore, do any work on the Sabbath - from sunset on Fridays to sunset on Saturdays. He cannot be consulted nor be discussing the nation's business on the Sabbath in deference to 'man'.

In compliance with God's Law of the Sabbath, the persons assigned to work with Dr Allen as GG must also cease work on the Sabbath.

This means his entire staff at King's House and his security detail. He cannot facilitate the breaking of the Sabbath law.

He cannot, therefore, entertain and receive visitors as GG on the Sabbath, or attend functions on that day, or allow anyone to deputise for him. He cannot also permit nor facilitate unclean or unhealthy foods and drink to be prepared and served by him to visitors (Leviticus 11).

Not all GOOD things godly

In essence, Dr Allen has been distracted into conflict with God. If he is fully faithful to God without compromise to 'man', he will not be happy.

He must remember that not all good things are godly. He has put himself in a spiritual pickle with little room to manoeuvre for he must serve God at all times, 24 hours per day - and not 'man'.

He cannot have two masters otherwise he will lose his soul in the process. I will pray for him.

I am, etc.,

Concerned

Seventh-day Adventist