St Vincent and the Grenadines Parliament Unanimously Approves Spiritual Baptist Day as Public Holiday

Background

The St Vincent and the Grenadines parliament has unanimously approved legislation declaring May 21 a public holiday in honor of Spiritual Baptist Day.

History of Spiritual Baptist Day

The history of Spiritual Baptist Day dates back to 1912 when the colonial legislature passed the Shakerism Prohibition Ordinance, which outlawed the expression of freedom of religion by the faith now known as the Spiritual Baptist, but which was called the Shakers or Shouters.

However, on March 22, 1965, then Chief Minister Ebenezer Theodore Joshua led his government to repeal the 1912 ordinance, paving the way for the recognition of Spiritual Baptist Day.

Recognition of Spiritual Baptist Day

On March 28, 2002, Parliament enacted a two-clause law that came into effect on April 16 that year, declaring May 21 the Spiritual Baptist Official Recognition of Freedom to Worship Day.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, a Roman Catholic, has been associated with the Spiritual Baptist community for a long time and has spoken about the significance of May 21 as the day of liberation for the Spiritual Baptist community.

Current Status

The Public Holiday (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (National Spiritual Baptist Day) bill was piloted by Prime Minister Gonsalves, who noted that St Vincent and Grenadines is the second country in the world to have such a holiday, with Trinidad and Tobago having a similar holiday observed on a different date.

Opposition Senator Israel Bruce, a Spiritual Baptist, described the law as the “most significant” he had debated since becoming a lawmaker in 2019.

Conclusion

The approval of Spiritual Baptist Day as a public holiday is a significant milestone in the history of the faith in St Vincent and the Grenadines. It recognizes the struggles and sacrifices of the Spiritual Baptist community and acknowledges their right to freedom of religion.

FAQs

Q: Why is May 21 important to the Spiritual Baptist community?

A: May 21 is the day the Spiritual Baptist community recognizes as their day of liberation, marking the last day of prosecutions under the 1912 law.

Q: How many people in St Vincent and the Grenadines identify as Spiritual Baptists?

A: According to the 2012 census, nine per cent of the population self-identified as Spiritual Baptists.

Q: Why did the government repeal the 1912 ordinance?

A: The government repealed the 1912 ordinance to recognize the right of the Spiritual Baptist community to freedom of religion and to acknowledge their contributions to the country’s history and culture.