Greetings fellow Virgin Islanders, residents and visiting family and friends.

The Christmas Season, the Yuletide Season, the Holiday Season, is always a time of reflection. It should be a time of reflection because of the reason for the season – the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and what that means for Christians.

But it is also a time of reflection, because regardless of our religious persuasion, we have all come to a time of the year when we can look back and give thanks that we have made it this far; we can compare our lives then and now; and we can look towards the future with much hope.

Many started the year 2014 and are not here today to do any kind of reflection. To those who have lost loved ones and friends, I offer you my sincere condolences, on behalf of the constituents of the 4^th District, the Ministry of Communications and Works and on behalf of my family.

Despite any challenges of the past months, I can say with confidence, that the Virgin Islands is seeing an upsurge in the economy, as our Government forges ahead with several major and other smaller infrastructural projects, which have created more jobs for our people and will put us in a better position socially and economically.

The beginning of a New Year is a great benchmark and I want to challenge all of us to build or develop and radiate a spirit of positivity in this New Year 2015, no matter what comes our way.

We have little control over everything but we have every control of our reactions. Each of us has it within us to ensure that we are not influenced negatively by the social ills plaguing our society. We can each decide to encourage one another to make a positive contribution to the development of our beautiful Virgin Islands.

For example, we know that the element of criminal activity wanting to infiltrate our Territory is foreign to us and we must do our part to ensure that we can continue to live in the safe and caring environment that we are known for here in the Virgin Islands.

As our Government works to improve the infrastructure of this Territory – our health care; educational institutions; road and utilities networks; port facilities; tourism and financial services sectors and such like – and as you work individually to better yourselves - your social standing; your financial position; your spirituality even – we will find that together, we can make a positive difference for our collective good.

I wish you all a safe Holiday Season.

Remember to help someone along the way if you can. God bless you and God bless these beautiful Virgin Islands.

Thank you.