AZP News asked some politicians about their Christmas wishes. Here is what they had to say:
Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health:
My Christmas wish for 2021 is one of peace, harmony and solidarity. It is only with solidarity amongst all leaders speaking from the same page that we could successfully fight this virus. I think that solidarity amongst some leaders is missing and my Christmas wish is that we move into 2022 with a larger slice of the country moving in the same direction that the Honourable Prime Minister has laid out that is, we need to vaccinate more and more people.
Personally, my wish for this Christmas is that all healthcare workers remain safe, that the burden of Covid-19 that they have been fighting for 24 months, does not weigh down on them too much. I wish that all healthcare workers come out of this safe and sound so that they could return in 2022 to fight this virus because that is the only way that 2022 can be a better year for us.
Dr Nyan Gadsby- Dolly, Minister of Education:
It is a blessing to bring you greetings as we celebrate this 2021 Christmas season.
Although we may not be able to participate in a traditional Trini Christmas where we parang from house to house and greet each other with warm hugs, there is much that we can do to share Christmas cheer.
This holiday I wish three things for my fellow citizens. Firstly, I encourage all of you to take the time and find innovative and safe ways to connect with your loved ones. Secondly, I urge you to set aside some time to reflect on the many blessings that 2021 has bestowed on us despite the countless challenges we have faced. And finally, if you can, find someone that may need a helping hand this holiday season and make a positive difference in their lives. This year has been a challenging one but let us still find a way to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers and ensure that all of us who call twin island home have a very merry Christmas.
As for my wish… what I sincerely wish, is for Trinidad and Tobago to successfully achieve the much needed transformation of our education system, one where every child and adult has an equal and equitable opportunity for learning and the opportunity to positively contribute to Trinidad and Tobago. On behalf of The Honourable Lisa Morris, Minister in the Ministry, the executive and staff of Ministry and from my family to yours, I wish everyone a safe and joyous Christmas season and a happy and prosperous 2022.
Marvin Gonzales, Minister of Public Utilities:
Despite our current challenges, let us not lose hope. Let the spirit of Christmas, the light of Christ and the Bethlehem star strengthen our resolve to battle this pandemic with unity of purpose. Let us remove all obstacles of division and commit to doing the right thing for the good of all mankind so that we can truly say “peace on earth and goodwill to all.”
Rushton Paray, Member of Parliament for Mayaro:
Christmas 2021 is an unusual one. Covid-19 has remanded the “Christmas Spirt” to Golden Grove. Like most persons in Remand, a release date is unknown and unlikely.
For most of us Trinidadians and Tobagonians, not only are we fighting Covid -9, but we are fighting against a culture of hugs, kisses, gatherings, sharing a drink and meal with a stranger.
We are fighting the need for a house to house parang, and for some- a stumble to the neighbour’s house on Christmas Eve.
We are literally fighting not to be Trinidadian and Tobagonain.
But luckily, we have a spirit of resilience. We have bounced back from two booms and busts, two attempted coup (d’etat) and thousands of politically bad decisions.
My Christmas wish for my fellow countrymen is not to lose sight of hope. Hope for a better tomorrow!
Our resilience and deep-seated love for one another must keep the fire burning through the darkest days that lay ahead.
For this Christmas, I wish that our frontline infantry hold the line on the Covid-19 battlefront. I wish for their passion and patience to grow stronger, their sweat to mean something to us and their love for their fellow men to continue to blossom uncontrollably.
I wish that the rest of us continue to work towards encouraging our friends and family to become vaccinated as it gives us the best chance to defeat this unseen enemy.
I wish that the God to whom each of us pray to keeps us in His loving care and mercy, guide us into 2022, keeping sickness, crime, poverty and other Social ills far away.
On behalf of the Office of the MP, I wish Trinidad and Tobago a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2022.
Dinesh Rambally, Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West
“At this Christmas time, I wish for nourishment for those who have gone without food, peace for those who feel embattled, hope for those in despair, success for those who are struggling, and stability for those who seem to be losing their footing in these perilous times.
For those who lost loved ones, I wish them comfort and understanding. For those who are feeling the pressure of this pandemic, I wish them enduring strength and optimism.
For the children, I wish that Santa somehow remembers them on Christmas morning, so that they can unwrap presents and once again feel a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips.
As for myself, I wish for strength to continue to serve, and courage to deal with what this pandemic brings us. I urge everyone to consider getting vaccinated. Otherwise, we can expect more mutations of the virus and further, unnecessary disruptions to our lives.
Let me wish all your readers, and all of Trinidad and Tobago, a happy holiday season, and one tempered with social and personal responsibility.”
Phillip Edward Alexander, leader of the Progressive Empowerment Party PEP:
“I wish for myself a long life to love and serve my family and my country. My Christmas wish for Trinidad is that we learn the believe in miracles again, that we learn to hope for a better day for all and wake up to the reality that the day we stand together all the evils that plague our blessed and beautiful country would all fall away.
“My Christmas wish for Tobago is that the promise of a new day ushered in by the last election becomes a reality and that island finally gets an opportunity to live up to its full potential.”
