My Fellow Grenadians
It is with great pleasure
that, on behalf my family, the executive and members of my party, and on my
own behalf, I extend warm and fraternal Christmas greetings as well best
wishes for a peaceful and enjoyable season to all citizens of Grenada,
Carriacou and Petite Martinique whether at home or abroad, and also to all
those foreign nationals resident or visiting with us during this very
important time of year.
Christmas is indeed a very
important time of year to our people. To us, it is more than a tradition as
its meaning and significance goes beyond the day and the season. For the
birth of the Christ Child, the Saviour of mankind is an event that has given
purpose to our lives here on earth as well as hope and assurance for
eternity.
As we know, Christmas is a
time of sharing and of giving; a time to show that we truly care for and
about others, a time to demonstrate our kinship with our immediate family
and members of the wider community. For as we give, as we share, as we
interrelate positively with others, we ourselves and humanity as a whole
will certainly become strengthened. The Christmas message of peace, love
and salvation is certainly the kind of message which can and will enable
mankind to prosper and to overcome the divisions which limit our
development.
It is therefore my hope
that this year, each of us will seek to continue our time-honoured
tradition of promoting and observing peace, goodwill and togetherness, and
the sharing of whatever we can with our friends and neighbours and even
those we may not know or be familiar with.
While we celebrate, we must
be ever mindful of the fact that due in part to the times in which we live
and the particular circumstances within our country, there are thousands of
our people who are unable to fully enjoy the joys of Christmas. There are
many among us who because of the dire economic situation simply cannot
afford to purchase anything special; in fact there are many who are at the
risk of going hungry on Christmas day. In addition there are some among us
who are sick or institutionalized and therefore unable to fully enjoy
Christmas joys. I urge those among us who are more fortunate to reach out to
those who are in need of whatever we can give this Christmas time, whether
it is love, attention and caring or products that will enable an individual
or a family to have a happy Christmas.
Our basic human instincts
and the love that we all should have for those around us, should compel us
to reach out to such people and to do what we can to ensure that like the
rest of us they are able to enjoy the fullness of the season. As faith
without works is dead, so love that does not reach out to others in
practical terms is unfulfilled and ineffectual. My hope is that this
Christmas be one in which all the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite
Martinique will be motivated to demonstrate that kind of love and caring
which will enable neighbours, friends and loved ones, and even the strangers
among us, to feel that we are all part of big family. For it is only this
kind of endeavour that will truly make us ONE PEOPLE, ONE FAMILY in
accordance the words of our National Anthem.
All Grenadians are aware
that my party, the New National Party has always identified itself with the
poor and less fortunate among us, whether we are in or out of Government,
we always made a special effort to ensure that such persons would be able to
join with the rest of the population in having a merry Christmas. In spite
of our current situation, we pledge to do whatever we can to brighten the
Christmas of at least some of our people. We know that we do not have the
resources, but we have a heart, and that will lead us to do whatever little
we are able to.
My fellow Grenadians, we
are all fully aware that so far, 2011 has been a very tough year. I
therefore urge everyone to take the time to relax and to enjoy the benefits
of being with friends, family and loved ones this Christmas. When things are
as tough as they are these days quality time is of great importance to all
of us, Most of all let us not ever forget to thank the almighty for however
much or little that we may have for he is the source of all our blessings.
Finally, to my family and
friends, to all workers in the public and private sectors, to all teachers,
doctors and nurses, to the members of the business community, to all members
of the security forces who will help to keep us safe during the season, to
all farmers, fishermen and others who help us all to have a happy Christmas,
to all the members of the Parliament; and to all my constituents and the
people of Grenada in general, I again extend best wishes for a peaceful and
enjoyable Christmas season.
Thank You and May God Bless
everyone.
