Mystery surrounds the removal of Reverend Christopher Haynes from Mount Zion Church AME church with some callers to The Royal Gazette blaming Immigration for his impending departure while one supporter said the church hierarchy was out to get him.

One AME member rang The Royal Gazette to say Rev. Haynes had been re-appointed to the Southampton church in March while a recent meeting of the ruling body in America had not sought to remove him.

And a senior American source also said Immigration had pulled his work permit while another local source backed this up.

Senior Immigration Officer Dr. Martin Brewer was off the Island last night.

However Rev. Haynes supporter Dwayne Santucci said Immigration had pulled his work permit because senior opponents in the church had already sacked him.

He said: "If you bring in a foreigner and then you say you no longer need him Immigration will grant your request and remove him. They can only respond to the request before them."

He called on local AME Presiding Elder Rev. Malcolm Eve to come clean on the affair and publicly state the church's position rather than continue to duck the media.

Mr. Santucci said Rev. Haynes had spoken out against corruption but was now paying the price.

He said fewer than two dozen people wanted him out while more than 200 had signed a petition last month in support of him.

"Within the AME body they have been out to get him for some time but they never had the support from the membership."

Mr. Santucci said opponents had moved this time around despite a lack of popular support. He said Rev. Haynes had worked tirelessly in the community helping families and parishioners but his straight-talking over part-time worshippers had made him enemies.

He said: "You can't live like the devil and then they turn up on Sunday and take communion and think all is forgiven.

"We have people in this church who sit as money changers in bingo clubs. Jesus turned the money changers' tables over."