The massive earthquake which rocked Haiti this month has left persons here and abroad claiming voodoo was responsible for the destruction.

The claim even sparked a debate among friends last week.

Some disagreed voodoo could have been the cause for the earthquake whereas others were adamant that was the cause.

"They practise too much voodoo and wickedness in that country and that is why God sent the earthquake to give them a wake-up call," a member of the party said.

"True, True," another one remarked and added. "If people do wicked things then destruction must happen to them."

A friend who was not in agreement with the view said, "Foolishness you both are talking, so what happen to people in other countries who do not practise voodoo and yet they too are killed or injured by earthquake?"

disaster

"You must all remember that bad things happen to good people at times and you should not be making such remarks but instead should all be trying to send your donations to help the poor people in Haiti," the friend added.

Another member of the group was quick to point out that the criminals in Jamaica were more dangerous than the people in Haiti.

"Look how many innocent people are being murdered in Jamaica so if voodoo caused the earthquake then very soon we in Jamaica, are going to have a major disaster because a lot of wickedness and murders take place here too," the man remarked.

offence

He went on further to explain that an obeah man lived next door his parents in St Mary and he had seen many people going to the obeah man for various reasons.

"So we should not be too quick to judge others because there are still many people in Jamaica who believe in obeah," the man added.

Practising obeah is an offence in Jamaica.

Section 3 of the Obeah Act states, in part, that every person practising obeah shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months.

An injured woman is transported in a wheelbarrow in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, yesterday. Along with thousands of other persons, she was injured during last week's 7.0 magnitude earthquake. - Ian Allen