“Religion can be the most powerful force for liberty in society,” said Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Patrick Manning, at a Jan. 19 International Religious Liberty Association conference on the island of Trinidad. The gathering brought together 320 leaders of both society and faith communities across the Caribbean region and beyond.

“However, religion can also be one of the root causes of division—with intolerance of others, belief in the monopoly of sacred knowledge, and the incapacity to see alternatives,” Manning continued.

Manning said he has pride that “we can discuss these matters with candor and freedom in Trinidad and Tobago,” noting that the country’s constitution guarantees religious freedom. However, “practice may differ from ideals,” he said. “History has taught us that states have unfortunately been party to the suppression of religious liberty ... we must work against such a tendency and mitigate this factor.”

“We are delighted at such a strong endorsement of religious freedom ... from the prime minister,” commented John Graz, IRLA’s secretary-general and director of the Adventist world church’s Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department.

“We trust that the outcome of our meetings here will be an increased recognition of the vital importance of supporting—in very practical ways—religious freedom and tolerance in every part of the world,” Graz said.

Local IRLA representative and primary event organizer Clive Dottin noted that the conference was the first of its kind in the country. “In bringing together [these leaders], we hope that we can develop wider support for freedom of conscience and mutual respect,” he said.

The IRLA is a non-sectarian organization, established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church more than 100 years ago, to promote and defend religious freedom for all people.