Workshop on the use of the Ocean Health Index in the Virgin Islands

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, good afternoon and happy New Year to you.

This afternoon, I want to use this opportunity to talk to you about some major highlights of the past year, but equally about this Government’s plans for the year ahead.

Last year was one of hard work that paid off.  Indeed our success was guided by seven broad priority areas:

Christmas is special time of year. It is a time where Christians across the world celebrate of the birth of Jesus Christ. A time when families and friends from all parts of society gather together to reaffirm those special human ties that bind us together.

To all within the sound of my voice - whether on television, on radio or on the world wide web - a very merry Christmas!  Indeed today is the most wonderful day of the year.  We give thanks to God for the ultimate gift of his Son Jesus. As we celebrate Christmas today, and over the coming days let us remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Season’s Greetings to all those residing within the Virgin Islands.

We stand once again on the verge of another holiday season, during which time we make a concerted effort to spread good tidings of peace, joy and goodwill to our fellow men, whomever and wherever they may be.

I would like to take this time to wish all citizens and residents of these Virgin Islands a blessed and peaceful holiday season.

Greetings, I am Dr. 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, that I hold responsibility for, I would like to take this opportunity to first and foremost, wish you and your family an enjoyable and peaceful Holiday Season.

I would also like to take this opportunity on behalf of the staff of the Ministry to send, my colleagues, the Premier and other members of the House of Assembly, “Season’s Greetings” and a safe Holiday Season.

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.

Good day and God’s blessings to all my people of our beloved Virgin Islands.

The year 2014 was quite a challenging one for most persons, but to everyone that listens to this message, or reads this message or views this message, we must be thankful to God because that means we are still alive. Once there is life there is hope.

Christmas time is here again and we all are joyful and happy to celebrate in our different ways the birth of our Saviour Christ the Lord. I wish to extend a happy, joyful and peaceful holiday to all in the British Virgin Islands, and specifically to my constituents in the 9^th District of Virgin Gorda and Anegada and surrounding islands of Eustacea, Necker Island and Mosquito Islands. It also includes all visitors to our shores at this time and I hope they will return for another Christmas holiday.

At this time of year, we sense a feeling of peace, joy, love and goodwill.  I believe these same feelings are shared by many of you during the Christmas Season.