CHIEF MINISTER’S 2002 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Fellow Anguillians at home and abroad, residents, visitors and my brothers and sisters in our neighbouring islands. It gives me great joy to bring you greetings this Christmas season. Why do I have this joy? I have this joy because the Christ of Christmas has been good to us individually and collectively. In the midst of a global economic recession God has enabled us as a nation to stand firm.

God has once again spared us from the ravages of hurricanes and other disasters. He has provided the opportunities for sound investment in our economic development. He has blessed us with abundant showers of rain during the year and our small-scale farming is thriving. Our tourist arrivals, though less than we would desire them to be, have been holding steady and the prospects into 2003 appear to be very encouraging. Anguilla as a nation and Anguillians have a lot to thank God for. This is cause for joy. I invite you to share my joy.

The year 2002 has brought the usual mixture of successes and disappointments, joys and sorrows. Some persons were displaced in some jobs but seized the opportunities in other areas. Many families experienced tragedy while others celebrated the birth of a child. A minority of persons chose to commit crime and violence while the majority remained productive and law abiding citizens. Some used the excuse of an economic downturn to ignore their duty to pay their taxes while the majority honoured their obligation to pay their fair share for the provision of government goods and services.

Christmas and the end of a year provide a good opportunity for reflection and contemplation. I ask you therefore, have you been a good citizen, a good worker, a spouse, a good parent, a good student, a good neighbour in 2002? Search yourselves and if there are shortcomings, make a pledge to do better in 2003.

The year 2003 is before us. It will be another challenging year for Government. However, I am confident that with God’s grace and guidance and with the support of all of our social partners all of our plans will be realized.

I am fearful though, that all our efforts to secure a better standard of living for our citizens and residents can be jeopardized by the criminal activity of a few. This negative behaviour is alien to our way of life and I appeal to the perpetrators to desist from activity that will tarnish our reputation as a peaceful, low crime tourist destination. Government will use every means available to address this potential monster.

We invite all Anguillians and residents to join us as we strive to build a society where each individual can achieve his/her true potential and aspirations and live in freedom, dignity and prosperity.

It is my prayer that the love of God and His power will envelop you throughout 2003 so that lives may be changed to bring hope for our troubled world. May hatred be replaced by love, may your failures be turned to successes and may your fears be lifted by peace.

On behalf of my ministerial colleagues and on behalf of Mrs Fleming and myself, I extend to all Anguillians, residents, visitors and neighbours a joyous and Christ centred Christmas Season and total prosperity in 2003.