Fellow Grenadians, the Christmas season is traditionally associated with outpourings of\u00a0love, peace, joy, gratitude and above all, togetherness as we celebrate the birth of Jesus\u00a0Christ. This year, we are particularly grateful for the return of togetherness, as last year,\u00a0the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed our usual celebrations.<\/p>\n
The deadly virus and emerging variants continue to be a very real threat to our existence.\u00a0Therefore, even as we embrace the festivity of the season, our actions must be\u00a0responsible and in keeping with the recommended protocols. We will continue to rely on\u00a0the combination of our individual and collective efforts to keep us safe.<\/p>\n
Sisters and brothers, the Christmas season affords us an opportunity to reflect on the\u00a0experiences of the past year, while at the same time, anticipate what the coming year will\u00a0bring. As we look back with gratitude, we also pray for the comfort of those who are\u00a0grieving the loss of loved ones.<\/p>\n
Last Christmas, we didn\u2019t envision that at the end of 2021, we would still be in the middle\u00a0of this pandemic. Nevertheless, here we are. As we look with great expectation towards\u00a02022, let us commit to being better advocates of Christianity and strengthen our resolve\u00a0to be our brother\u2019s keeper. For it is said in Matthew 25, verse 40, \u201cTruly I tell you, whatever<\/p>\n
you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christmas is a time of giving, a time of compassion. My Cabinet colleagues and I feel\u00a0extremely gratified to have been able to add some value to the true meaning of these\u00a0characteristics of the season. The recent decision to provide additional pay to frontline\u00a0workers and all other public officers was made knowing it required a significant sacrifice\u00a0on the part of Government, but we were convinced of its necessity as a token of our\u00a0sincere appreciation. And what better timing, than right before the Christmas holidays.\u00a0We truly hope that this gesture will make the load a little lighter, the Christmas a little\u00a0merrier and the New Year a little brighter.<\/p>\n
COVID-19 presented a formidable challenge, not just for us in Grenada, but around the\u00a0world. Throughout 2021, the Ministry of Health, backed by its reliable stakeholders,\u00a0mounted an equally formidable response against this unseen but lethally dangerous<\/p>\n
enemy. Even when the challenge heightened and kept climbing rapidly to an unnerving\u00a0crescendo that claimed many lives, the counter-attack was equally persistent and\u00a0relentless, saving thousands of lives. With the recent identification of a new, even more\u00a0challenging variant, 2022 could very well see an extension of this battlefield. The\u00a0difference is, there is ammunition available with several vaccine options with which we\u00a0can protect ourselves.<\/p>\n
In disaster management, we speak a lot about building resilience. There have been\u00a0several periods in Grenada\u2019s history where our people have demonstrated that the word\u00a0resilience is almost a defining characteristic of being Grenadian. This pandemic is helping\u00a0to showcase even more examples of how resilient we are, as a country and as a people.\u00a0Therefore, we look to the future with much optimism and faith.<\/p>\n
Faith, it is said, can move mountains. So while we work together to move the proverbial\u00a0mountain that COVID-19 represents, we must at the same time, continue to pool our\u00a0efforts in combatting the effects of climate change and environmental degradation. The\u00a0coming year presents an opportune moment to reaffirm our commitment to the actions\u00a0that will safeguard our world for future generations, and accelerate climate action as\u00a0agreed at the recent United Nations Climate Change summit in Glasgow.<\/p>\n
The youth represent the future, they are the leaders of tomorrow. This administration has\u00a0long advocated for, and facilitated youth empowerment. Recognised as an overarching\u00a0pillar of our growth and development, 2022 will see continued emphasis on creating\u00a0opportunities for our young men and women to better position them for leadership roles\u00a0in driving the development agenda.<\/p>\n
Leaders are teachable. They embrace learning and recognise its pivotal role in shaping\u00a0life. Our students are among those most impacted by the pandemic. They fought\u00a0incredibly hard during the past year and have reaped the rewards through continued good\u00a0performances in external exams. Going into the New Year, we pray for their continued\u00a0resilience and success in scholastic achievements and other spheres of their lives. We\u00a0pray that our students, in fact, all Grenadians are comforted by the promise made in Isaiah\u00a041, verse 10 \u2013 \u201cSo do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.\u00a0\u00a0I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our resilience as a people is inextricably linked to the goal of improved food security.\u00a0During the pandemic, when borders were forced to close, we witnessed the rebirth of the\u00a0agriculture sector. It is imperative that we harness this resurgence as we continue to chart\u00a0the path towards sustainable development and healthier living for the people of Grenada,\u00a0Carriacou and Petite Martinique.<\/p>\n
Sustainability has become a key development watchword and tourism is well recognised\u00a0as a pillar of economic survival. In the new normal created by the pandemic, the sustained\u00a0recovery of this sector, will play a critical role in the revival of the local economy. We are\u00a0pleased to see that visitors still regard us as a safe destination. The recent return of cruise\u00a0tourism and growth in stayover arrivals illustrate the attractiveness of Pure Grenada.<\/p>\n
Already blessed with the inherent beauty of a tropical paradise, Grenada must ensure\u00a0that its infrastructural development complements and enhances its natural appeal and\u00a0positions the country for further development. Activity in this sector will continue to be a\u00a0leading contributor in the COVID-19 recovery effort, while at the same time, creating\u00a0thousands of jobs and putting food on the tables of many Grenadians.<\/p>\n
This Government is deeply concerned about the welfare of the people, particularly as they\u00a0face the psychosocial toll of this pandemic. Our concern has repeatedly translated into\u00a0actions that address the basic needs of the most vulnerable. The economic relief\u00a0measures announced in the 2022 budget and the expansion of our social protection\u00a0programmes show quite clearly that we care \u2013 we not only talk the talk, but we walk the\u00a0walk.<\/p>\n
Government is equally committed to the growth of the small business sector and in 2021,\u00a0we reaffirmed this with a massive allocation as part of the economic stimulus package.\u00a0Much of this will be implemented in the year ahead as we continue to foster an\u00a0environment that facilitates the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.\u00a0Ultimately, more of our people will be empowered to provide for themselves and to spur\u00a0activity in the local economy.<\/p>\n
To be truly effective, recovery must take place at multiple levels and we are seeing\u00a0evidence of this across the various sectors. Our sports men and women and cultural\u00a0artistes are once again able to represent Grenada on the world stage and they have been\u00a0doing so with unrivalled alacrity. We applaud their efforts thus far and in 2022, we expect\u00a0to witness more of their exploits as ambassadors of this country.<\/p>\n
It was in 2004 that we first heard the phrase \u2013 a crisis is a terrible thing to waste. The\u00a0ongoing global crisis presented an opportunity for us to embrace available technology\u00a0and advance the transformation to a digitised environment. This continues to be a work\u00a0in progress and there is an unwavering commitment to better position our country and\u00a0people for the opportunities of this technologically advanced era.<\/p>\n
Development is inclusive and it is holistic. No one should be left behind. This Government\u00a0has made a concerted effort to ensure that development of the sister islands keeps\u00a0abreast of what\u2019s happening on the mainland. There are many examples which give\u00a0testament to the success of these efforts and in some instances, developments on the\u00a0sister isles have actually surpassed the pace of development in Grenada.<\/p>\n
The Government of Grenada embraces its responsibility to spearhead the development\u00a0of our country. In like manner, we lead the country\u2019s fight against COVID-19. However,\u00a0our response efforts were bolstered by the support of many friendly countries and\u00a0organisations. In particular, I want to express our deep appreciation for the diaspora who\u00a0reached out in our time of need. In this season of gratitude, we once again express our\u00a0profound appreciation to our regional and international friends who continue to support\u00a0us on this journey.<\/p>\n
External support will always be welcomed and appreciated, but the true merit of any\u00a0government will lie in its ability to harness its own resources to advance the growth and\u00a0development of its people. And this is exactly what this government has done through\u00a0astute management of the local economy and supported by the tremendous sacrifices\u00a0made by the Grenadian people.<\/p>\n
As we continue to steer this country along the path of development, we look to the\u00a0Almighty Father to be the beacon that guides us in maneuvering the turbulence of COVID 19. We therefore look to 2022 with the much hope and optimism in anticipation of the\u00a0\u00a0fulfilment of Romans 15, verse 13, which reads, \u201cMay the God of hope fill you with all joy\u00a0\u00a0and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the\u00a0\u00a0Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Merry Christmas to one and all and we pray for God\u2019s continued guidance and blessings\u00a0\u00a0in 2022.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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