By María Westwood

Sunday, June 15th, 2025 — Father’s Day. For many, it is a sacred day of reflection, celebration, and gratitude. For me and my family, and countless others across this nation, it is also our Sabbath. As Sunday is to Catholics and many Protestants, and as Saturday is sacred to the Adventist community, Sunday is our day of worship, reverence, and spiritual rest.

But this morning, I was jolted awake by the blaring sound of a megaphone echoing through my neighborhood in Nut Grove, St. John’s Rural South. The source? A political advertisement announcing a Father’s Day celebration at the community ball court.

Let me be clear: I fully support honoring fathers; they deserve recognition. Nor do I take issue with political presence in our communities. What I take strong issue with is the timing, the tone, and the complete disregard for the sanctity of our rest and worship.

This wasn’t just inconsiderate. It was disrespectful. It was disruptive. It was entirely out of order.

In a society where religion still matters, where families gather on Sunday mornings to pray, to recharge, and to simply be, this kind of intrusion crosses a line. It signals a growing erosion of respect for spiritual life and domestic peace. It also reveals a dangerous overreach of political ambition.

My husband, who works tirelessly throughout the week, including many Sundays, finally had this one off. Yet that rare moment of rest was stolen by a loudspeaker pushing a political agenda into our home without warning or permission.

This is not about political affiliation. This is about human decency.

There is a time and place for political outreach. Early Sunday morning is not that time. Not in a quiet village. Not during sacred hours of rest. Certainly not while church services are in progress.

We cannot allow this to become standard. We must not excuse it as “community engagement.” This was not engagement. It was an invasion.

Community events can be promoted respectfully, in advance, through flyers, social media, or local networks. There was more than enough time to inform residents without resorting to a megaphone blitz at such an inappropriate hour.

Antigua and Barbuda still has a living, breathing Christian community. There are still homes where Sunday is held sacred. There are still people — hardworking, God-fearing, family-centered individuals — who deserve the dignity of a peaceful morning.

To all political parties and hopeful leaders: Know the difference between visibility and violation. There is no power in disturbing the very people you claim to represent.

We are asking for something simple: Respect.

Respect for our time. Respect for our faith. Respect for our homes.

By all means, honor the fathers. Serve the people. Be present. But be wise enough to know that leadership without humility is just noise. And this morning, that’s all it was.

Do not politicize our day of rest. Do not politicize our worship. And do not make politics so loud that you drown out the very soul of the community you seek to serve.

Let respect, not noise, lead the way.