PRESS STATEMENT
Michael Family Tradition Draws Thousands
to Share Christmas Season Joy
Johns, Antigua, January 2nd, 2023 – Thousands of children from all across the nation got together today for the largest Christmas Party ever held in Antigua and Barbuda.
More than 8 thousand persons journeyed to Merryland Park on the Sir Sidney Walling Highway to attend this year’s version of the event which has been hosted by the Michael family over the past five decades.
Four term Member of Parliament for the St Peter’s constituency Asot Michael says the Christmas Party started at the family home in Dry Hill with his father, who invited thousands of children from across Antigua, whether from the families of PLM, ALP or UPP supporters. The family is overjoyed with the massive turnout this year:
“I feel so heartened to see so many children not just from the constituency of St Peter but from all over that have come out here… over 8 thousand children who have come out here to enjoy themselves… Cause it’s a tradition of the Michael family started by my late father and it will be carried out for generations to come. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party or for my election or my re-election.
He says this feature of the family tradition, carried on with his late mother and his sisters, is all about giving back:
“It is in my DNA to give back to this country because when my forefathers came to this country, we had absolutely nothing. We were poor peasants. My grandfather came to this country and started out as a poor taxi driver and it is the people of this country who made us who we are today… And I believe my mantra in this country is to give back and to help the little ones;whether its education, health care… whether it is to give them scholarships… I will continue doing that”.
In Mr. Michael’s philosophy of life, this is money that is extremely well spent:
“Because I believe money is not to be accumulated in bank accounts… when you go down in that earth… my mother just died a few weeks ago; my father died at the age of 53, they could carry nothing. Money is to be used for social good…
“And every single night when I go home and I rest my head on a pillow I feel comfortable that I have helped somebody less fortunate than me.
Mr. Michael says the annual Christmas party is just one example of what he stands for –
“Helping poor people in this country… making people enjoy themselves, making people feel happy spreading joy at Christmas. Christmas is about giving… it is about the spirit of Christ who gave his whole life for us… and it is the most splendid part of my life to see the joy on their faces… it is not about winning votes and I feel so happy tonight to see the thousands who have come out… and I am very blessed that I am able to do it and I thank them for coming”.
-ENDS-
