Statement

Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour
Topics: 
Culture
Release Date:
Thursday, 24 December 2015 - 11:00am

Greetings, I am Dr. Kedrick Pickering, Member for the Seventh District and the Minister responsible for the Natural Resources and Labour of the Government of the Virgin Islands. On behalf of the Ministry, I would like to take this opportunity to firstly, wish you and your family an enjoyable and peaceful Holiday Season. - A special holiday greeting to the people of the Seventh Electoral District, who have placed their confidence in me over the years. I’ll continue to do my best to serve them and to do our best to improve our community and by so doing, improve this Territory; the Great Little Nation we are building.

Christmas is a time for togetherness; families and tradition. There is something special, enchanting and I dare say, magical about this time of the year. It is a time where as a people, our core values and customs are brought to the fore-front as we participate in this global observation built into our very roots as Virgin Islanders’ similar to the way coconut is grated, stewed, and baked into a delicious coconut tart.

We can almost immediately identify the Christmas season with specific hallmarks, including sights, sounds and smells. One of the notable aromas of the season is that of freshly baked goods; guava, coconut, pineapple tart, black cake, bread pudding and many other pies and pastries! I find that Christmas surely is almost entirely built around the taste buds, but it is my hope that we also remember to share and to give.

Let us not be wasteful, excessive or squirreling at this time, but let us remember others who may not have. Yes, we are fortunate to have so much in the Virgin Islands, but we may not even notice a neighbor, friend, or coworker who may be down and not doing as well, this Christmas.

 So, before we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, let us remember fellow residents and citizens here in nature’s little secrets.

Let us remember to celebrate in a green way and give back and do something for others. Remember that when there is nothing left to give, we can always give someone some ‘time’, simple acts of kindness like, visiting, sitting and talking with someone can mean a whole lot more than anything you could possibly buy; a demonstration of the caring nature of BVIslanders

Remember not to take any of our blessings for granted.

So on behalf of my immediate family, my wife Alice and our children, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, and the people of the seventh district, I wish you a safe and wonderful Holiday Season as we prepare for the New Year: 2016. I pray that God will continue to watch over, guide and protect us.

May God bless us. May God continue to bless these Virgin Islands. Have a safe and peaceful Holiday Season. God bless you.