PROSTITUTES AND PROPHETS came in for severe criticism by a Caribbean Baptist leader yesterday during a television recording.

Reverend Vincent Wood, immediate past president of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, said that while people could not get licences for decent work, regional cabinet ministers met to discuss temporary licences for prostitutes during Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007.

"I'm glad the governments of Barbados and St Kitts have said 'no' and I hope it is an emphatic 'no' and not a political 'no'. I hope it doesn't mean no today and yes tomorrow," Wood cautioned.

The outspoken pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church on President Kennedy Drive, St Michael, and vice-president of the 45-million strong Baptist World Alliance, touched on the two areas that have been the subject of debate for weeks. Last week Government publicly rejected a proposal to grant temporary licences to prostitutes for the 47-day duration of CWC.

"It will be a sad day in Barbados and the region if licences are given by Caribbean leaders for these people to conduct their dirty work. I condemn it," Wood told the congregation.

He said the influx of prostitutes in time for CWC was no reason for governments to consider licences to make an illegal act a legal one when there were others who were in need of licences for legitimate work, but could not get permission.

"I want to tell lesbians, male homosexuals and prostitutes that there is a better way and Jesus Christ is the way. You don't need to sell your body."

On the other hand, he told "so-called prophets", who for months have been predicting destruction for Barbados, that there were no modern-day prophets.

Wood said prophets of old were divinely empowered to communicate with the people and their visions were confirmed by The Bible.

"Those who are prophets don't give wrong dates and times and if they miss, they don't go around making excuses," he said.

His full comments will be telecast on September 24 at 8 a.m. during the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation's From the Pulpit. (AC)