Honourable Kedrick Pickering
Christmas Message 2017

Greetings, I am Dr. Kedrick Pickering, Deputy Premier, Representative for the Seventh Electoral District and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour of the Government of the Virgin Islands.

On behalf of the staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, I take this opportunity to wish the Honourable Premier, my colleagues and other members of the House of Assembly an enjoyable Holiday Season.

Special holiday greetings are extended to the entire Territory, especially the residents of the Seventh Electoral District, who have given me the opportunity over the years to be your representative. I will continue to do my best to serve you as we continue to improve our community and the Territory as a whole, especially now.

During this Christmas season, after the effects of the August Floods, followed by back-to-back Category 5 Hurricanes Irma and Maria, I know many of us are concentrating on the rebuilding of our homes, our businesses and our lives. However, let us hold true to our values of caring and sharing, also remembering those who do not have at this time of the year and those who are mourning the passing of loved ones who are no longer among us.

Let us never take our blessings for granted and always remember that we’ve been blessed to be a blessing to others and if it was not for the Lord’s mercies we may have been consumed.

Let us remember that Climate Change is a global threat, making us in the Virgin Islands also vulnerable, in our Nature’s Little Secrets.  It is imperative that we protect our environment, our economy, our food security, our infrastructure from the direct threats associated with climate change to reduce the impacts; and promote sustainable land management. We must not only ‘adapt’ to climate change but must do our part to ‘mitigate’ by reducing our carbon footprint.  By doing this we will do our part in rebuilding our BVI Smarter, Greener and Better!

So, on behalf of my immediate family, my wife Alice, our children, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, and the people of the Seventh Electoral District, I wish you all a safe and wonderful Holiday Season as we prepare for the year 2018.

My prayer is that God will continue to watch over, guide and protect us and may He continue to bless these Virgin Islands as we build BVI Stronger!

Have a safe and peaceful Holiday Season. God bless you.