December 25th, 2022
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 6
My Dear Constituents of St Peters… My Beloved Antiguans and Barbudans, at home and abroad,
I take this opportunity to extend to each of you, best wishes for the Season. It is also my sincere wish that every one of you will have a happy, healthy, productive and most prosperous New Year.
This Christmas, as we reflect on the struggles of 2022 and as we cultivate our hopes for 2023, we should give thanks and praise to His Lord for the many blessings of growth that have been afforded us over the course of the last year.
I am sure that for many of us it is a period of mixed feelings, as we reflect on the many challenges over the past two years, some of us are also mourning the loss of loved ones, jobs, and possibly even our homes as a result of the COVID pandemic. No one was spared the pain and challenges of this unforeseen pandemic, and though this season might bring bittersweet memories, we are made in the image and likeness of our lord, who grants us the strength to overcome and persevere with our many challenges.
My family and I are also mourning the loss of a loved one, our beloved mother. Yet, I am grateful for those family members that I am still able to hug this Christmas, for the people of this country, for health, for life itself, and for the indescribable sense of joy that I feel every time I am able to help someone.
It is this joy that gives strength and perseverance that keeps us moving forward in the face of difficulties, and while the business of the season can easily carry us away and cause us to be overwhelmed, by the house that still needs to be cleaned, the gifts that still need to be wrapped, and the meals that still need to be prepped. We must all take a moment to appreciate and give thanks for each other, spend quality time with our loved ones and express gratitude for the blessings that we do have.
This year, as we celebrate our cherished Yuletide Season, we cannot escape the knowledge that we are in the midst of an election campaign. I pray that our traditional seasons of comradeship and fellowship is not overshadowed by the divisive nature of an election campaign.
We, as Christians, must not let our hearts be troubled by any unnecessary distraction. We must at all times hold dear our celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his spirit, we shall prosper and triumph over all and any evil. Nothing should discourage us from rejoicing in our Christian faith. It is by the forces of love, peace, and togetherness that we as a people will at all times be guided to do the right for our God and our Country.
And so, the New Year must be about choices that help to cultivate a passionate national commitment to love, peace, truth, justice, mercy, forgiveness and self-sacrifice – the values gifted to us in the birth of Jesus Christ.
With this in mind and a renewed sense of duty to self and country, we push on in faith. So, on behalf of the Michael family and on my personal behalf, I take this opportunity to wish all my fellow Antiguans and Barbudans, and in particular my dearly beloved constituents of St. Peter, a Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2023.
God bless you. God bless Antigua and Barbuda.