Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday there is no religious leader in the world who can give him a "passport to heaven" and whether or not people believe he is doing the right thing in regulating the web shop industry, it is not a "sinful action".
"Faith tells me that there is no minister of religion in the world that can give me a passport to heaven and that ultimately that is where I would like to be," said Christie on the sidelines of an event at the Straw Market on Bay Street.
"Why? Because I have a compelling reason to want to see my mommy again. So when I think of faith and think of myself, I think of my own life. There are limits to it."
He added, "Right now I am driven to do what is right for the country.
"Whether I am seen to be doing the right thing or not, so long as I am in the belief that what I am doing is honestly intended to benefit the Bahamian people [and] it is not harmful to them, it is not a sinful action that I am taking..."
Several religious leaders have condemned the government's decision to regulate the web shop industry.
The pastors have pointed out that the majority of Bahamians who voted in a gambling referendum last January voted no on the issue. The opposition has said it will not support the Gaming Bill 2014 for that same reason.
Pastor Andrew Stewart said the government is "killing democracy" in The Bahamas by moving ahead to regulate the industry.
Stewart, along with several other pastors, were in the House of Assembly last week when the bill was tabled. They were dressed in black. The men said they were in mourning over the "death of democracy".
Following his interview with reporters, Christie further addressed the issue in the House of Assembly yesterday.
On a point of order, he said, "Faith is a very personal thing to me.
"In a speech...I indicated that my own personal faith, notwithstanding my imperfections, [does] not compliment someone who worships the same God that I do."
Christie said people "interface with that God in a way that allows that God to tell them that I've committed a sin".
"My faith is always motivated on an intention to do what is right for the Bahamian people," he continued.
"You may disagree with me as to what is right, but in terms of my faith, I told them that there are people who, even in my party, don't like me to quote religion.
"But I will recite a verse and I am going to sit with this verse, John 3:16, that I learned a long time ago, 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life'.
"I recited that there, just to let people know that a debate could only go so far as to the integrity of people who are on both sides of this House.
"Do not for one moment believe that any of you can arrogate unto yourselves a special right to see yourselves as more Christian, even if you wear a black shirt."
Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn was also wearing all black in the House yesterday.
Christie said faith governs him and "leads me to do the things I do".
Fort Charlotte MP Dr. Andre Rollins said in the House of Assembly on August 20 he was tired of hearing the prime minister quote scripture.

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