Love thy neighbour as thyself

19.DEC.08

Christmas message from Ivan O’Neal, BSc(Hons), MSc, MBA, Leader of SVG Green Party

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us be mindful that love, justice, peace and mutual respect, not wealth, should be the cornerstone of our Christian lifestyle. The bible teaches us in Leviticus 19:18 to love thy neighbour as thyself. This is a good foundation on which we should build.{{more}}

Many people, in particular the poor masses, are suffering badly from the ULP regime’s harsh economic policies. VAT is considered outrageous and wicked and coupled with the high electricity price, the poorest of our nation cannot buy bread and sugar. Yet across the road, the ruling elite and their associates continue to live a lavish lifestyle, unconcerned about their neighbours. We should be loving our neighbour as thyself.

We live in the 21st century, where science and technology provides upward mobility. In SVG, most primary and secondary schools do not have a science lab, and more seriously, the children of the poor are being left behind because of poverty. Education is a right, but not under the ULP regime. The ULP regime’s education initiative fails to meet the demands of the 21st century. We cannot build a strong nation with an inadequate education system.

HIV and AIDS have correlations to poverty and unemployment. SVG Green Party strongly believes that we can significantly reduce the infection rate by having a strong and sustainable economy. Unfortunately, current ULP policies promote a weak economy and are a catalyst for the continued infection of HIV and AIDS in SVG. We have to change direction in SVG and focus on loving our neighbour as thyself. We have to build an education system that promotes equity. We have to build an economy that fully utilises all of our indigenous resources and can propel us away from dependency. Most importantly, we have to have the faith that we can do it.

For decades the world said that it was impossible to elect a black President of the USA, but President-Elect Obama has proved that wrong. It is now a reality. For a reality of a strong economy in SVG, SVG must go Green. Crime and rape are a plague in SVG. Everyone wants an end to the disgrace of our economic gloom and wake up in the new year looking forward to prosperity. We need to make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves by rejuvenating our nation under a Green government.

Jobs and financial security are a right for all.Techno-logy is moving a million times faster than social change. If SVG continues to focus on the begging bowl, then, in the long-term, SVG will crumble to a country of squalor. Yet again, the unemployed have been forgotten this year. In a Green society, there will be compassion and equality for all. A strong Green economy will bring down crime.

Just as 2008 changes to 2009, so the nation calls for a red government to change to Green, for a positive change. On behalf of the Executive, members, supporters and well-wishers of SVG Green Party, I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy new year. May God continue to bless our beloved country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.