Grand Kru County Superintendent, Doris N. Ylatun, has vowed to deal with individuals or violators who refuse to abide by government’s mandate to suspend worship services, hand-washing and other measures aimed at avoiding over-crowdedness to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus.
She challenged anyone who calls himself a pastor or public official to conduct church worship services in the county, adding, “Let’s see if anybody is above government, because after God next is government as stated in the Holy Bible.”
According to the report monitored, the threat came when two public officials claiming to be pastors of Pentecostal churches in the county allegedly refused to adhere to health regulations by not shutting-down their churches and washing hands regularly.
The defiant pastors or officials of government are the County Agriculture Coordinator, Benjamin Bedell and Sectional Clerk of Kplibo Chiefdom, Wah Wah Blamo. Bedell is pastoring the Jireh Faith Mission in Topoh, Barclayville, while Blamo is doing the same at the Jireh Abundant Life Church.
Working under the banner of Grand Kru Full Gospel Ministers Association (GKGMA), those pastors allegedly vowed to resist government’s measures against the COVID 19, saying they will use Sunday, a time that Christians pray and fast, to seek God’s divine intervention against the virus.
County Agriculture Coordinator Benjamin Bedell, in a defiant posture said, “Let the government close down the markets or business centers in the county; that’s the only way, we, as Ministers of the Gospel will close our churches.”
But Ylatun asked those involved to render apology to the people of the county or risk drastic administrative actions which were not specific. “I will not relent in enforcing government’s mandate on the containment and the spread of the virus. I will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those found violating the health protocols,”Ylatun expressed.
She described the two officials’ statements as misplaced and in negative directions, stating it is “disappointing to the county and its people. I wondered what kind of message these people preach to their respective congregations, when they are not obedient to God’s words.”
Report says residents in the county have described those pastors’ statements as “reckless” with the sole intent to undermine the county administration and Health Team’s efforts to curb the spread of the disease.
Earlier this week, churches here under the Liberia Council of Churches suspended worship services for three Sundays as laid down in the health emergency declaration by the Health Ministry.
In a statement issued in Monrovia, LCC stated that three Sundays, in accordance with Health Ministry 21-day declaration include Sundays, 22 and 29 of March, and 5 April, 2020. This followed a meeting held with church groups, denominations and Christian organizations.
The Coronavirus which started late last year has brought both developed and developing countries’ health systems to their knees raging havoc on human lives and devastating economies globally.
Liberia on Monday, 02 March, confirmed its first case of COVID19 followed with 2 others .A fourth suspected case involving a 22-year old woman in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County is still awaiting testing results to be made published.
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