It, however, should have been billed as the Benny Hinn Concert, with all the singing the 300 or so choir members dished out, then Hinn came belting out a solo, joined by another to form a duet, followed by yet one more for a trio.

But suffer it to be so, as Hinn could not have made it past auditions for the Scouting For Talent show in this blessed land of calypso.

This man is so full of himself, everything centred on him; it was Jesus playing second fiddle in the night’s proceedings.

Gloating on his past performances, he gave anecdotes one after the other, always making himself come out as if a halo (circle of light) covered his entire person, and is “Holier than thou.”

Skeptics, more so, would have seen his boasts and comparing others to him, each time a phenomenon was spoken about.

Recalling the time when he shared the platform with three different Pentecostal and Catholic priests, in a day of healing.

A towering North American Indian on crutches with his daughter having a bleeding disorder as was seen below her sleeves, had demanded that he heal them.

“But the Pentecostal priests began shouting whilst the Catholics whispered (prayers)”, which brought peals of laughter to the already tickled audience.

Of course, he was the one saving the day, after a loud noise was heard and the family ended up in a pile on the ground all cured, this after he spoke up to Heaven saying that he was doing the job through Him (Jesus).

Job! Without a doubt he is good at what he does: strange tales, comedy, talking about his friends and especially playing on the subliminal minds of the people already entangled, to trap new ones and ensure they stay that way.

This surely went unnoticed to the masses, whereby on the occasions televangelist Benny preached, low notes on an organ would play slowly at first with the haunting sound of a bell tolling in the background, allowing a passionate feeling.

Then to drive a point home the rhythm quickens to a dramatising effect, thus increasing one’s heart beat, making his words believable.

Now, the evangelist knew that he would be in for some careful scrutiny, so things were put in place to make coverage an impossible, and very inconvenient for the media.

There were no provisions made for us, except a lot of don’ts.

At every gate or passage- way, muscle-bound security men glared at the unfamiliar with suspicion, and it had become quite annoying to repeat to those designated and were rushing you like pothound dogs in heat, “I am aware of the instruction given, when Benny Hinn comes on stage no photos are to be taken.”

After one camera operator for a TV station was thrown out the hassle became worse for female reporters who were told that voice taping was disallowed, adding that they had to stoop to avoid blocking others view.

Except that one brazen and wearing a skirt, felt that in so doing Benny would have gotten a preview of a wine and-go-down-low dance that occurs at Carnival time in the savannah, which he now called Holy Grounds. Ha!

And the grounds there seems to generate one similarity when it come to the audience of Christians singing and calypsoes being sung and that is: they all put their “hands in the air”.

Hinn promised those in attendance that miracles would be performed the first night, but how those with hidden affliction, or visible ones must have felt crushed when they had to return home with only hopes of -- maybe next time.

Then again, “Oh ye of little faith!” should bear new meaning for the gigantic crowds of those looking for cures as well as “… seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”

Benny’s followers are searching to be whole and are naïve to the fact that they can be turned away at the Pearly Gates.

He cannot help in that aspect because Jesus himself cautioned, “No man cometh to the Father, except by me.”

“By whose authority do you teach these things? ... show us your credentials,” the religious and civic leaders demanded of Jesus in those days, and these words should be just as good today.

Other than that the gullible are afraid to ask, but are led like lambs to the slaughter.

The evangelist who portrays that he is like unto but does not walk among men like Jesus did, apparently has a great fear for his safety and the iron fence erected between the stage and the front row seats some 50 feet away, attests to that.

His forceful security men or “ushers” as he prefers to call them, were everywhere within arms length of each other, giving the impression that Hinn was as important as the American president and that they were prepared to die for him in the line of duty.

Nevertheless, I will chalk this one up as experience.

Though I went prepared expecting the unexpected it never came.

No amount of miracles is too much; but the images conjured up in everyone’s mind of a never-ending line with Benny Hinn’s hands on fire busily curing souls were to no avail.

And as for me, I awaited the moment to see Former President A.N.R. Robinson who was most present on the stage, do a cartwheel, or at least jump and click his heels, being strengthened by the one who the masses believe sits at the right hand of God.

Finally, as Benny leaves these shores, I know that Sat Maharaj was right for once, when he said that no welcome mat should have been laid out for the Hinn.

Who left me unimpressed!