Pastor Fitzgerald Semper delivered a fiery Independence sermon on Sunday that challenged Antigua and Barbuda to confront what he described as the nation’s growing moral and social decay, warning that no country can be truly “solid” if it turns a blind eye to injustice, greed, and the erosion of values.

Speaking during the 44th Independence Thanksgiving Service at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Creekside, Semper moved beyond spiritual platitudes to issue a sweeping call for moral accountability—addressing issues from substance abuse to economic inequality.

“When casinos are popping up in poor neighborhoods, that is not solid,” he declared, drawing nods from the congregation that included the governor general, acting prime minister, and members of both political parties. “When millionaire and billionaire businessmen get all the concessions and still pass on the price to poor consumers, that is not solid.”

The pastor also denounced the accessibility of marijuana among minors and the prevalence of illegal firearms, warning that such issues threaten the nation’s stability and future. “When our young men can access illegal weapons and those who supply them walk free, that is not justice,” he said, condemning what he described as “wicked-hearted people who, for a few dollars more, do not care what happens when they put guns into the hands of youngsters.”

His sermon, themed around _“Solid, Stable, Soaring,”_ tied social ills to a broader moral decline. He argued that spiritual strength and ethical governance must go hand in hand if Antigua and Barbuda is to rise above its challenges. “Righteousness exalts a nation,” he reminded worshippers, “but sin is a reproach.”

Semper’s message comes amid renewed public debate over violent crime, the legalization of small quantities of marijuana, and the rapid spread of gaming businesses in low-income areas. By placing these issues within the moral framework of national development, his words struck both a religious and civic chord.

The pastor concluded with a call for collective renewal. “We must speak blessings over our nation,” he urged, “and build a country that stands on truth, not corruption—on compassion, not greed.”