Dear Editor,
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
I pray for Mr Hamilton Green and his family that his remaining years on earth will be peaceful and that he would find the path that will lead to everlasting life.
It is with great pain that I write this letter to respond to gross inaccuracies and misrepresentations by Mr Hamilton Green in a section of the media. Out of respect for his age and my lifelong upbringing of respect for elders, I will not undress him publicly, but will merely state facts.
Fact 1 – I was consecrated as Guyana’s first Pentecostal Bishop on February 8, 1995, at a public ceremony held at the Square of the Revolution, which saw an assembly of more than 20,000 Guyanese, of which Mr Green himself was present. It was not done overseas as Mr Greene claims and I did not return to Guyana and announce my consecration.
Fact 2 – I did not attend the US Ambassador’s home, Mr Brent Hardt, when then Minister of Education, acting as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Priya Manickchand, delivered her speech, which he described as vulgar and outrageous. I believe that Mr Greene is battling with memory loss.
Fact 3 – At an International Inter-religious Federation for World Peace (IIFWP) meeting, held at the Georgetown Club, where Mr Green was a keynote speaker, he used the occasion, in the presence of dozens of religious leaders, to politically attack the then President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, about his unregistered marriage. He sought to engage me and I declined, relating to him that should I speak, I would not speak selectively. He was obviously annoyed and continues to repeat and misrepresent what transpired. As I mentioned earlier, I believe the elderly gentleman is suffering from memory loss.
Fact 4 – The church building in D’Urban Street, known as Winner’s Cathedral, where I am the presiding prelate, was built during the years of 2001 to 2005, funded and supported by the members and friends of the congregation. Mr Green was an invited guest and in his capacity as then Mayor of Georgetown, he delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. As a resident of Lodge, Mr Green is aware of the hard work and sacrifices of the congregants in ensuring that this structure was erected.
Thank you, Mr Green, for admiring, even though awkwardly now, my leadership. Just as a reminder, leadership is not only about doing extraordinary things but it mostly encouraging ordinary people to do extraordinary things. That was done in Lodge, Georgetown.
I reject any insinuation that the financing of this building was done “…compliments of a friend, who will be returning to Guyana under escort shortly”.
Fact 5 – For the benefit of Mr Green et al, I still preach and will continue to do so.
In closing, as a Bishop, I am duty-bound to be a priest, where I speak to God on behalf of the people in prayer; a Prophet, where I speak to the people the word of God and a King, where I rule with righteous judgement and in doing so, I deal with principles and not personalities. Jesus washed feet, not faces.
So, this is Juan Edghill and he will continue to let his light shine.
Yours faithfully,
Juan A Edghill
