Reflections, aspirations at Christmas time

21.DEC.07

by Leader of SVG Green Party, Ivan O’Neal

Christmas has a happy side and a sad side. On the bright side, it is the time when we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is a season when we show love, gratitude and compassion, with offerings of kindness and humility to all. On the sad side, it is a time when we remember friends, family and others who cannot be with us. Those who live far away and those who have departed.{{more}}

This is a time of year when we should spare a thought to the family and friends of the people who have been the biggest victims of this wicked ULP regime – the victims of crime and violent crime. Over the past 12 months, many families have been affected: losing loved ones to crime; those loved ones will not be here to share this Christmas. Many families have been affected by loved ones having been a victim of rape; those survivors of rape will still have to deal with that anguish and turmoil over Christmas.

We should spare a thought also to children of the poor. Where is the justice when VAT empties the pockets of the poor to fund a ULP regime Prime Minister’s office of almost $2 million, much of which is allowances for having a good time, travelling, entertaining and partying? Will there still be fun and laughter in those poor households, and how meagre will those children’s Christmas meal be? Families of the poor and the unemployed have been defenceless victims of this ULP regime’s unintelligent management of the SVG economy, and they suffer the harsh consequences daily.

There is significant imbalance in our society. Some poor children suffer enormous humiliation when, under ULP regime policies, they live with the constant threat of being expelled from school if their parents cannot afford the school fees.

Christmas raises many emotions, but a new year is always a time for hope.

Many people approach the Leader of SVG Green Party, Ivan O’Neal and tell him of their worries. People want to move forward, but find it almost impossible to make a dollar and to make ends meet. They live in poverty, jobless, in fear of violent crime and under crushing financial pressure from ULP regime imposed sledgehammer taxes.

Look ahead to next Christmas. What emotions do you want to be experiencing then? If you want to move from social pressure to financial freedom and experience a happier Christmas next year, then the incompetent ULP regime must be discarded.

The leadership of the ULP regime is weak and incapable: it is subordinate to begging, borrowing and high taxes. The SVG Green party is different: it is strong and its leadership is strong. SVG Green Party has cross-sectional capability, and it can make a positive difference to your life. It has the economic intelligence to build a strong and sustainable SVG economy.

Fellow Vincentians and fellow citizens, I wish you a Merry Christmas, a happy new year and the strength to choose a brighter future.