HOLIDAY MESSAGE2016 BY MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKS
HONOURABLE MARK VANTERPOOL

For many of us, the end of the year is usually a time of reflection and also a time of planning for the future.

So here we are again, grateful to God for sparing our lives so that we can see the ending of this year 2016.

As we look back on this year, we reflect on how far we have come - our accomplishments in our personal lives, in our families, careers and businesses.

We also reflect on our shortcomings, challenges and losses and look to how we can work to overcome any obstacles, improve our status in life and how we would like to see ourselves progressing and making a difference in our communities during the upcoming year.

We reflect on the world changes that have taken place since the year 2016 began - and those have been many.

We remember our friends in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Belize and Barbados, who experienced severe flooding due to adverse weather conditions and we thank God that they were spared the worst.

On the local scene, we lost some of our sons and daughters, including my own dear mother Geneva Lettsome and I express condolences at this time to those who have lost loved ones in the past 12 months.

But on a positive note, we can boast of the progress we have made as a Territory, as our Government continues to maintain a relatively stable economy and political climate and ensure that our health and welfare, educational and infrastructural needs are met.

The fact that we are here today, means that we are blessed, it means that we are a resilient people, but it also means that we still have some work to do in our own lives and that of those God has entrusted us with.

I encourage all of us to examine our thoughts and actions towards making this world a better place and decide to do more, in particular, to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate among us.

Certainly, I highly commend those of you who have done your part to enrich your lives and the lives of others.

Let us continue to share our blessings and make opportunities out of our challenges.

As we join the world in celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and as we prepare to usher in a New Year, this is definitely a time of celebration and thanksgiving.

Many of us will be reconnecting with family and friends during this holiday season.

I urge you to renew those commitments to become better persons, live in peace with one another, do what you can to contribute to the further development of our families, businesses, the community and by extension the Territory, the region and the world at large.

On behalf of my own family, the staff at my businesses, all of the residents of District Four and my team at the Ministry of Communications and Works, I extend greetings to you all, for a safe and blessed Yuletide Season - whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Ramadan, Christmas or Kwanzaa.

I join the late Martin Luther King Jr in echoing the song that says “If I can help somebody as I travel along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody he is travelling wrong, then my living will not be in vain!”

May God continue to bless us all and bless these beautiful Virgin Islands.

Thank you.