Caption: Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles
By Prior Beharry
OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles used her Christmas message to urge renewed hope while warning that many households are facing an unusually difficult season amid economic strain, rising living costs and concerns about the country’s direction.
in her Christmas 2025 message, Beckles extended greetings to citizens “both at home and across the diaspora,” describing the season as one that calls for “reflection, faith and renewed hope.”
Referring to the nativity story, she said that Jesus was “born not into comfort or certainty but into humility, challenge and trial.” Quoting Luke 2:10–11, Beckles recalled the angel’s proclamation: “Do not be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people… Christ the Lord!”
But Beckles said many families are entering the holiday period under significant pressure. “We are living through a period of profound uncertainty,” she said, pointing to “the pain of job losses and ongoing economic instability.”
She described the economy as sluggish and said businesses are worried about seasonal sales.
Beckles said, “Our economy is at a near standstill, with business owners expressing serious concern about their Christmas earnings,”
She added that “the national mood is heavy as the cost of living continues to rise and opportunity feels increasingly out of reach for far too many.”
Beckles also criticised what she described as a disconnect between decision-making and daily realities, citing “growing unease about the direction of our economy, the tone of governance and decisions that appear disconnected from the lived realities of our people.” She said that for many households “this Christmas feels particularly difficult,” and expressed hope that the new year brings “a clearer path forward for economic prosperity and social stability for the nation.”
Beyond domestic issues, Beckles pointed to international and regional pressures, warning that “troubling developments beyond our borders remind us how vulnerable small island states can be when global tensions escalate.” She also raised concerns about CARICOM ties, saying there is “strain on our relationships within our region, CARICOM, arising from the unfortunate posture adopted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Still, Beckles appealed for togetherness over political division.
“It is my hope that during this season, as a people, we can come together despite our differences, choosing peace over discord and unity over division,” she said.
