Sabbath keepers raise concern about Saturday opening of tax offices

By Halshane Burke    

 

The Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is calling for the rights of Sabbath observers to be protected.

 

The call follows the announcement by Finance Minister Fayval Williams that select tax offices in all parishes across Jamaica will be opened on Saturdays.

 

Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director of the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Nigel Coke, says while the conference is not against the move, religious liberties must not be trampled on.

 

"We support the government's drive to improve tax collection. We are also cognizant that among workers in the government are those who worship on the Sabbath. Hence the concern that coming out of our recent religious liberty summit and the commitment of the government to uphold the Constitution on religious freedom, Sabbath keepers are not forced to work against their freedom of conscience and beliefs," he said. 

 

Mr. Coke, while commending the government for "using alternative methods to improve much needed revenue collection", called for "good sense" to prevail among the management of tax offices regarding workers' religious freedom.