An Open Letter To The Chairman School Board Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased)

December 8, 2014

 
Rev. Phyllis Smith-Seymour
Moravian Minister
Chairman School Board
Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased)
P.O. Box 48
New Market P.O.
Saint Elizabeth
Jamaica West Indies

Dear Rev. Seymour:
You may not know, that not only do I have my roots in The Salvation Army Carr Corps, New Market, Saint Elizabeth where I was nurtured in spiritual things as a Sunday School Scholar, but I also have my roots in Carmel Moravian Church where I was nurtured in Children’s Meeting at 6:00AM on Sundays, Sunday School at 10:00AM, and Adult Service at 11:00AM. You may not also know that after I attended Instruction Classes at Carmel Moravian Church where I was exposed to the Catechism of the Moravian Church, I was among 40 candidates who were confirmed by Rev. Ashton Smith – my Scoutmaster – arising from an Evangelistic Crusade that the late Bishop Neville Neil held at the Church. Still you may not know, that Rev. John W. McOwatt – then Moravian Minister at Carmel Moravian Church – conducted my Marriage Ceremony at the Church on March 5, 1965.

Having said all this, I will not hesitate to tell you that your conduct and treatment in your capacity as Chairman School Board Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) towards Shanisa Jones, now Six Form Student at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), qualified beneficiary of James Richards Educational Trust Fund and a believer in Christ who is currently in fellowship at The salvation Army Carr Corps and Vincent Samuels who is also a believer in Christ and is in fellowship with God’s people in a Local Church in Saint Elizabeth; is not only abominable and unconscionable, but it is incongruous with the Logo of the Moravian Church that appear on your Facebook Page.

As an Ordained Minister and Member of the Provincial Elders Conference (PEC) in the Moravian Church in Jamaica, I expect you to live the word that are inscribed in Latin on the Logo: “OUR LAMB HAS CONQUERED LET US FOLLOW HIM.” Your continued defiance of legitimate directives that the Permanent Secretary and Chief Accounting Officer in the Ministry of Education has given to you in your capacity as Chairman School Board Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) to reimburse outstanding amounts owed to Shanisa Jones, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) and Vincent Samuels by James Richards Educational Trust Fund for which Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased is the New Trustee, is incongruous with the words on the Logo of the Moravian Church.

If you as an Ordained Minister of the Gospel of Christ treat two believers of God’s grace and mercy the way you have been treating them, I am perplexed to know how you treat the wicked and ungodly who do not know or have a relationship with Christ?

I urge you to cease your defiance and do the right thing by carrying out the legitimate directives that the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education has given to you and my perception as well as the perception of Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) of you will change. Clinging and taking refuge in the entrenched worn out culture of silence, secrecy, non-response and pussy-footing is not going to ameliorate the situation. Conversely, your continued refusal to comply with legitimate written directives that the Permanent Secretary has given to you will only make the vexed unresolved contentious matter worse as it continues to be exposed and played out in Social Media Network for the world to see the injustice that is being done in the impoverished Beersheba Primary School Community where Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) continues to be the safety net that has been preventing students at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) and students who have graduated from the School and are currently attending High Schools from falling through the cracks.

Sincerely
Vincent Samuels
Secretary/Treasurer
Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA)
New Market, Saint Elizabeth
Jamaica West Indies
“A heart that is focused on others will not be consumed with self”

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