The Development Control Authority has ordered an immediate stop to construction of the large statue at Glorious Hope Ministries, deepening the controversy surrounding the monument.
Officials said the church must show proof of proper authorization. Sources said approval was granted, but not for the location where the statue stands.
Elder Claude Weaver, the church’s leader, said all paperwork is in order and that he has complied with the DCA’s request.
The statue—towering over All Saints Road—was meant to symbolize the biblical prophecies in the book of Daniel. Its helmeted head, crossed arms, and muscular frame have drawn mixed reactions, with some calling it a bold expression of faith and others criticizing its size and placement.
With the DCA’s intervention, the future of the statue remains uncertain.
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I think DCA got a call from the POINTE or a really big Dawg.
There will be many views and opinions on this and many would want to suggest that it’s overreach especially because it is a church project. But even churches are subjected to the building laws and regulations of Antigua and Barbuda. The DCA helps to prevent haphazard uncontrolled development ensuring that new structures and land use are in harmony with the surrounding environment and infrastructure. The erection of this structure, however Biblical, required the approval of the DCA. No approval means that the Church was in contravention of the laws as it pertains to the erection of major structures.
This the correct decision by the DCA to halt the construction of this utter monstrosity overlooking All Saints.
I would go further and check that all the necessary paperwork, documentation in the application was done correctly and in order by Elder Cleveland Weaver and the church in question.
This a welcome development by the DCA.
They are not above the planning laws. Those in business, building construction, and land purchasing knows there are no shortcuts whatsoever.
This whole fiasco by this narcissistic Elder comes across as ‘ I’m going to build now and ask questions later’.
Elder Cleveland Weaver you should focus more on feeding the poor and helping the downtrodden in All Saints and beyond.
In my opinion, Elder Claude Weaver should post the documentation he has for the public to see.
“Sources said approval was granted, but not for the location where the statue stands.”
DCA out of order. It’s just a statue. Freedom of religion. All the catholic churches have statues .in them . Sone even have They say some are mother Mary and some is Jesus. If The owner of VEG, who is the pastor of the church decide to put his outside what is the problem.. The statue is not a health hazard it is just a symbol of the doctrine of a new found church in Antigua. Catholic Church goers, worship their graven idol statues. DCA stop being hypocrites .DCA members saw the statue long time but because people start to talk, they get onboard and pretend to do something about it. In Antigua our constitution say freedom of religion. So what is the big deal. He should also put one at VEG. The statue is on VEG property. He should also put one at the entrance road to the church.. if it is a cult, and they ask VEG leader of the church to reak it down he shouldn’t. Let DCA send a backhoe to break it down so that the statue spirit can fling both the operator and the backhoe below LICS
And the saga over the statue continues lol
They didn’t know about it before?
DCA only see things when people talk. If VEG didn’t have DCA approval and ask to break it down he should and get the papers and build it again. All the catholic churches have monstrous statues why DCA never break them down. What is all that fuss about a statue. Man just get DCA approval and build it bigger. None sense. And the leader who is also the owner of VEG, You must build another big one at the entrance road to your church. That church is a break away from the Adventist church. They preach the same doctrine as the seven days Adventist so what is the big deal. And for those who suggested that he should take the money and feed the poor, that is the man money. Government have more money than he so why not call on the government to feed the poor and all those rich Muslims in this country to feed the poor. He should also put one at the entrance of VEG
Well the fact that it was stopped makes me wonder if they in fact do have the proper permits. All the Elder had to do was to come out and show the approved paperwork for all to see instead of just saying that everything is in order. I would be very disappointed if you are not being truthful with us.
If people are saying that this mega monstrosity was built by the owner of VEG and he didn’t get the correct planning permission to build it in All Saints, then instead of demolishing his beloved obelisk, he should place it outside his home once the DCA give him the ok.
Problem easily solved 👍🏾
WHAT THE HELL…! …DCA STOP ORDER?
AGENTS AND AGENCIES: …BLUNDER-MAKING BABOONS (BMB):
***
It has been to the general knowledge that:
(i) ‘…SOME STATE AGENCIES: and
(ii) …SOME STATE AGENTS:’ have been
(a) …CONSTANTLY EXPLOITED BY THE ENVIRONMENT. for ensuring
(b) …JOB SECURITY.’
***
STUPIDLY PUSHED
Thus, most ‘AGENTS’ were often perceived as being ‘…STUPIDLY PUSHED’ to do the unthinkable.
***
THE ‘…SUPREME LAW: …THE CONSTITUTION ORDER: …FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
***
BLUNDER-MAKING MONKEYS
That which was professional known, was that some ‘…BLUNDER-MAKING MONKEYS’ never appeared to: have
(a) ‘…REFERRED TO THE SUPREME LAW- THE CONSTITUTION ORDER-1981: nor
(b) …EVEN MAKE REFERRALS TO:
(i) ‘…THE MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS:
(ii) …THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SIR STEADROY ‘CUTIE’ BENJAMIN: or
(iii) …THE SOLICITOR GENERALM MARTIN CAMACHO.’
***
TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF ‘…BLUNDER MAKERS’ the ‘Constitution Order States:
(a) ‘…EXCEPT WITH HIS/HER OWN CONSENT, NO PERSON SHALL BE HINDERED IN THE ENJOYMENT OF HIS/HER ‘…FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION’ [CO: 1981: Section 12].
***
COMMONALITY OF UNDERSTANDING:
Ensuring that every law-abiding has ‘…COMMONALITY OF UNDERSTANDING,’ it describes ‘…FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION:’ as may be
(i) ‘…ORAL: or
(ii) …WRITTEN: or by
(iii) …CODES:
(iv) …SIGNALS:
(v) …SYMBOLS…’
***
SYMBOL
Clearly, the ‘…STATUE,’ not only represents a ‘…SYMBOL,’ but also a ‘…BIBILICAL AND SPIRITUAL VISION.’
***
FUNDAMENTALS TO KNOW BY THE ‘…BLUNDER MAKERS:
***
The ‘…SUPREME LAW -CONSTITUTION ORDER’ unambiguously states:
‘…Nothing contained, or done under the authority of any law, shall be held to be inconsistent with the provisions of the ‘Constitution Order:’ if
(i) ‘…IT IS REASONABLY REQUIRED: in
(a) ‘…INTERESTS OF NATIONAL DEFEENCE:
(b) …PUBLIC SAFETY:
(c) …PUBLIC ORDER:
(d) …PUBLIC MORALITY:
(e) …PUBLIC HEALTH…’ [CO: 1981: Section 12 (4)].
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
‘…BABOONS WILL ALWAYS BE BABOONS.’
***
TO THE KNOWLEDGE: of
(i) ‘…THE MOST ESTEEMED, ‘DR. DAVE RAY: and
(ii) …THE APPARENT ‘…STARVED FOR KNOWLEDGE DCA.’
***
WITH SUCH ERECTED ‘STATUE,’ THOUGH ‘…ELDER CLAUDE WEAVER, WALKS THROUGH THE ‘…VALLEYN OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,’ HE SHALL FEAR NO DARN EVIL.’
***
KNEEL AND PRAY, BUT NOT AT THE FOOT OF THE STATUTE, THOUGH.
STAY RIGHT THERE, AT THE PULPIT.
***
***
PM Browne it’s high time to start taxing the FOR PROFIT CHURCHES, operating under the guise and cloak of #NON-PROFITS. They’ve got money and assets to burn. Use these new sources of revenue for the government, to strengthen the HEALTHCARE SYSTEM; in particular, the area of MENTAL HEALTH, because Crazy is as Krazee does!
Kaiso_Thyme
…as a Child, I really never thought,
…that, would witness this
…on my Island, which is so full of bliss
…it’s a fight between the gods and mammon s.
…while, they’re jockeying for the souls of HUEmans.
…but, Mami Wata; made me understand
…when it comes to religion
…no matter, what Ideology they each stand
…they are all the same
…and, have skin in the game
…whilst robbing the poor HUEmans
…with a promise, to free them all of their sins
…but, to tell you the truth
…as, I share with you my #African_Roots
…just shake my spirits bones
…and they’ll reveal to you;
…plus all of the parasites & hypocrites too
…no matter where, where; where RELIGION ROAM
…all roads will converge and lead you to, …those #red_devils in the catacombs of rome.
…ANNAH ME SAY SO!
…AH DE NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW
…DAT DEM MEK READ AS A PATHFINDER
…SUM SAY PREACH PAN SUNDAY!
…SOME SAY DE TRUE WIRD KUM EEN PAN SATURDAY
…BUT, PAPA LEGBA SAY
…ALL AH DEM, KUM TO ME, EBRIE DAY
…FU WUK OBEAH GEE DEM, MY WAY.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿 Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
Little Johnny, your comments show how dunce you are. There is no other church in Antigua with a statue or structure outside so huge that it requires DCA’s approval. Do you even understand the function of the DCA? You are a perfect example of the phrase “empty vessels make the most noise”. The DCA doesn’t care whether it’s a statue or a tower, or an office, or a church; or who or what entity it belongs to. They care about whether proper permission was sought and approved before a structure is built.
My good friend Rawlston Pompey I hear your argument about the Constitution and freedom of expression in all its forms. However, one cannot build anything without first obtaining the permission of the DCA. Elder Weaver says he got permission. A source in the article says he got permission but not for the site where the statue is presently located. Both DCA and Elder Weaver need to clear the air. Of course I do not expect a good Church Elder to lie.
As long as DCA has the legal authority to break it down, break the thing down.
The only person we should be calling dunce is the person that spent money to construct the structure. Is not everyone with wealth has common sense. In Antigua people become wealthy in all sorts of ill conceived ways. The building of this statue shows that this wealthy idiot either walking or sitting on his brains. My the way he is not a Seventh Day Adventist Anymore. He is a power hungry, self centered narcissist. A fool and his money will soon depart. This is reckless and ill conceived. I hope it is illegal too , that the DCA will destroy it just as they did to the young man who they said built illegally in Paraham.
Black people are self haters, they jump on Mr Weaver crying for DCA to break down his statue project, if that statue had depicted the blond hair blue eye Jesus it would have been all Amen.
But the same Antiguans don’t see it fit to ask DCA to break down the buffer zone fencing that white fly by nights apartheid white south African land thieves are able to erect in Barbuda on their so call PLH compound granted by Gaston, a barrier fence to keep out the black people from even swim in the sea water or else police and defense force come with machine guns.
Tell DCA break down PLH barrier fence it’s against our constitution.
Eldread – That is not a Depiction of Jesus. It is the statue or image that king Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream in the Bible. In which the profit Daniel interpreted for the king . The difference sections and mineral compositions depicted the different times in history and the superpowers that will rule. Most interesting, It draws attention to the feet which is the end of earth’s history.
In my view although I am a bible believer and follower of Christ. I see Weaver as a modern Jim Jones type character. I think that the intention is to draw attention unto himself.
The timing says everything. It is the time when the church he broke away from and the leadership he despises will be holding their big convention and island wide Crusade at Rising sun . This is a topic that the Adventist preachers use to explain that the Bible is God’s book. It would be nice to hear how they will respond to this , be it publicly or Internally.
Little Johnny you sound so since….. Ride off Catholic Church back. You sound like one of those rejected altar boys who expected to make up lies and drag the church’s name through the mud but wasn’t afforded the opportunity.
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