MPs giving up wine, spirits for Lent
Published:Friday | February 16, 2024 | 12:10 AMShanel Lemmie/Staff Reporter
While the rest of the country is trying their very best to remain faithful to the sacrifices they have made for this Lenten season, members of parliament in the House of Representatives are making it clear they understand our plight.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, the Lenten season will last until March 28.
As we caught up with our nation’s leaders at the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament on Thursday morning, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett confessed that for the next 40 days he is abandoning his love of red wine.
Stating his love of the Napa Valley Pinot Noir, he told Living, “I am a lover of red wine and that’s what I am giving up. The 40 days will be my moment of reflection on the grace that God has provided for us through the sacrifice of His Son, the ultimate sacrifice to enable us as people in the world to have redemption.
Similarly, Opposition Spokesperson for Finance, Julian Robinson, said this Lent will hold no alcohol for him.
“I decided that I’m going to give up alcohol. When I go to the nine nights, no more white rum, or when I go out with my friends,” he joked.
“It’s something I’ve done generally during Lent, so I decided to give that up.”
Sitting across the aisle, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Alando Terrelonge took the opportunity to make his political intentions clear.
He said, “I am giving up any notion that the time has come for Jamaica to come off the path of prosperity. I am giving up any notion of that idea because, the truth is, Jamaica really has advanced over the last eight years. We’ve seen record improvements across varying sectors, whether its housing, whether its healthcare, whether its education, the reduced figures in unemployment. Even from a foreign affairs prospective, certainly Jamaica is now enjoying unprecedented global prominence. Internationally, all indicators have said Jamaica is the place of wealth and great investment, so we’re really enjoying it, as well as the goodwill that comes from all our brand ambassadors across Jamaica.”