The Dominica Freedom Party
CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR ARE USUALLY OCCASIONS WHICH SIGNIFY GOOD CHEER AND NEW BEGINNINGS. FOR MANY DOMINICANS, CHRISTMAS BRINGS AN EXPECTATION OF GIFTS, CARDS AND CELEBRATING THE SEASON VISITING FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. MANY OF US SPEND TIME AND MONEY WHICH WE CAN ILL AFFORD ON FOOD AND CLOTHES DETERMINED TO LOOK OUR VERY BEST WHETHER THIS IS FOR GOING TO CHURCH TO THANK GOD FOR THE BLESSINGS BESTOWED UPON US OR PARTYING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
TO MANY, THE NEW YEAR MEANS NEW RESOLUTIONS, TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF AND HOPEFULLY FEELING MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE. FOR SOME, IT MAY BE A TIME FOR REVIEWING THE PAST YEAR WITH A BIT OF NOSTALGIA AS WE REALISE THAT THE GOOD TIMES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MAY NEVER COME AGAIN. OTHERS MAY BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND BECAUSE OF UNHAPPY EXPERIENCES AND UNFULFILLED DREAMS. WHILE SOME OF US MAY HAVE EITHER HAD OUR HOPES REALISED OR DASHED AND THE MATERIALISATION OF OUR WORSE FEARS, THE REALITY IS THAT ANOTHER YEAR HAS PASSED AND TIME HAS IRREVOCABLY ELAPSED. HOWEVER, AS WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE ACHIEVEMENTS MADE AND THE BENEFITS DERIVED THEREFROM, I WANT US ALL TO THINK IN PARTICULAR OF THE LESS FORTUNATE AMONG US, THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DEPRIVED, THE ELDERLY WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR FAMILIES, THE CHILDREN ABUSED AND FORSAKEN, THE SICK AND SHUT-INS, THE HOMELESS AND MORE ESPECIALLY, THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED DIRECTION AND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY IF THEY ARE TO SAFEGUARD THEIR FUTURE AS DOMINICANS IN DOMINICA.
OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND ARE UNABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. LIKE THEM, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE, OUR FUTURE IN THE FACE OF THE CONTINUING GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS AFFECTING OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
IN TIMES LIKE THESE, WE NEED TO TAKE HOPE AND STRENGTH FROM THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS. CHRIST WAS BORN AT A TIME WHEN GREED PREVAILED AND THE RULERS WERE ARROGANT AND WORSHIPPING MAMMON RATHER THAN GOD. HIS COMING TRANSFORMED PEOPLE'S LIVES AND GAVE THEM HOPE IN THE MIDST OF HOPELESSNESS. AS WE CELEBRATE CHRIST'S BIRTH, WE RECOGNISE THE GREAT LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US BY GIVING US HIS ONLY SON. LET US EXPRESS SUCH LOVE BY BEING ESPECIALLY CONSCIOUS OF THE POOR AND LESS FORTUNATE.
EQUALLY, AS WE BEGIN A NEW YEAR, WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES WHETHER A NEW YEAR WILL MEAN ANYTHING NEW. CAN IT REALLY BE NEW WHEN SO MUCH REMAINS THE SAME. THINGS WILL ONLY CHANGE FOR THE BETTER WHEN WE DOMINICANS TAKE RESPONSIBIITY FOR OUR OWN LIVES BY BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND DEMANDING THAT SAME HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM OUR PEERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. THE DOMINICA FREEDOM PARTY WISHES ALL DOMINICANS A BRIGHTER, MORE PRODUCTIVE AND SECURE FUTURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE NEW YEAR AND BEYOND. MAY WE ALL HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A NEW YEAR THAT BRINGS HAPPINESS, BETTER HEALTH AND WEALTH FOR US ALL!
Judith Pestaina
Political Leader
