2004 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

by Chief Minister Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith

(aired on Saturday, 25 December, 2004)

 Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you joyous greetings today at Christmas, and wish you the very best during this special season. 

Christmas is always a time for reflection and for giving thanks. It is also a great time for family gatherings, gift giving and expressing our love for others. In the retelling of the birth of our Lord, we are reminded of our Creator’s love for all humankind and of the power of salvation through him.

In the same spirit, we must also remember all those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Here in our beautiful and relatively peaceful islands, we must keep in our thoughts and prayers all those throughout the world who suffer with poverty, disease and war.

Take the time today to share the Christmas joy through a telephone call, or a visit. There are many people among us who do not have extended families so reach out to them today. Do not allow our busy lifestyles to erase the true meaning of Christmas. Do not allow our busy lifestyles to make us forget our Christmas traditions of caroling, going to church and family gatherings.

It is important that we keep our traditions alive by storytelling at our family gatherings, or even writing down these traditions, so that our culture and customs are preserved for generations to come.

At this Christmas time, we remember all our brothers and sisters throughout the Caribbean who endured the pain and devastation of hurricanes. And we offer our eternal thanks to God who spared our islands and protected the BVI for yet another year.

There is no better way to express our thanks to God for the gift of his Son, than to offer our assistance to those in need. Whether it is a contribution made here in our own Territory, for those among us in need of a helping hand, or to those in need abroad, during this season of celebration and joy, giving of our time and ourselves should be our aim.

For this year, as in years past, we have much for which to be thankful: This year tourism has continued to grow and thrive, our financial services industry has remained strong, and more businesses have opened. As a result, our people are today presented with opportunities to realize their potential and raise the quality of their lives.

Especially during this yuletide season, we are reminded of the enduring strength of our bond. As our family members return home or friends visit the BVI, when we walk down our streets, we see familiar faces with whom we have shared our lives and we remember our connection.

And when we extend a hand to help another, and when a hand is extended to us in our own times of need, we remember that being a part of the BVI means being part of an extended family that is as loving and caring as those with whom we share common blood.

As we get ready to say goodbye to 2004 and welcome 2005, we must all work together to raise our children the right way, to make sure they are getting the education they need, to make sure they are learning proper values, to make sure they are safe from any harm.

We must come together to keep our streets and our neighbourhoods crime-free.

We must pool our strengths to deal with difficult issues like growing our economy, and most of all must strive to be law-abiding citizens and residents.

In all these endeavours we will be strongest when we stand united.

As families, let us come together to celebrate this Christmas, and as families, let us look ahead with optimism and hope to a bright new year.

My Government, my wife Lorna, and my entire family join me in wishing all of you a safe and joyous season.

Merry Christmas to all of you!