HONOURABLE NATALIO D. WHEATLEY
DEPUTY PREMIER AND MINISTER FOR
EDUCATION, CULTURE, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, AND YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2020

SHINING THE LIGHT OF BVILOVE FOR A BRIGHTER AND HAPPIER HOLIDAY SEASON

I give very warm Christmas greetings to the people of the 7^th district and the wider Territory of the Virgin Islands as well as those who work within my ministry of Education, Culture, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Youth Affairs and Sports, and the wider Government.  For those who recognise other traditions, whether Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or something else, we pray peace, safety, and abundant blessings to you in this Holiday Season.

1^st Corinthians 13:13 says, “Three things last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  2020 was a very difficult year for us all.  Still in a state of recovery from the most devastating hurricanes in the history of our Territory, we were faced with the onslaught of COVID-19, a global pandemic that has brought the world to its knees.  We in this Territory were not spared its wrath; many persons have lost their jobs, their businesses, and their sense of security.  But despite the challenges that we have faced, we still have much to give thanks for.  While COVID-19 has taken away so many lives globally, God has protected us though we have had one regrettable COVID-19 death.

Once you have life, you have hope.  And let us have faith in God for better days, for indeed God has indeed been faithful to us.  We were spared an impact despite a record setting hurricane season. Some persons are working for the first time in months.  Some persons have received assistance from either a Government agency or from volunteers and donors.  We have a lot to be grateful for.

In this season of giving, we encourage persons to remember the hungry and suffering.  Remember Jesus is the reason for the season, and to truly be like Christ we must feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, heal the sick, and treat your neighbour in the way that you would like to be treated.  So as we celebrate this holiday season, in the midst of our food, drink, music, and merriment; as we spend time with family and friends; let us hold our faith close to us; let us never give up hope of a brighter tomorrow; and above all remember—Love is the greatest!

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!