Hon. Ignatius Jean

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

BY THE HONOURABLE IGNATIUS JEAN

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY AND PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATIVE FOR CASTRIES NORTH

Fellow St. Lucians,

During this festive season I would like to seize this opportunity to thank you, the residents of Castries North for your support, confidence and trust demonstrated by electing me to serve as your representative. I pledge my support and commitment in working with you all in developing our communities and our country.

Let us display goodwill, peace and love towards each other. Let us use this time to bring good cheer to our families, friends and neighbors. Let us reflect upon the year gone by, with all its misfortunes, triumphs, hardships and successes. Remember the less fortunate among us by reaching out to them. It is how we treat them today that will determine how we will be treated tomorrow.

As 2002 approaches, our nation faces the challenges of economic instability around the world, in addition to the major challenges in our own economy, particularly in the banana and tourist industries. Hence, the reason I caution you and ask that you exercise prudence at this time. Avoid overspending, excessive drinking and smoking, excessive indulgence of any kind that threaten our welfare.

Despite the many obstacles, we in Castries North have been blessed with many talented people and natural and man made resources such as the beaches, hotels, a thriving business and manufacturing sector, the GFL Charles airport, the Skills Training Center, a well developed highway system, and a diverse constituency base. The strategic location of our constituency makes us well placed to take advantage of these opportunities for the growth and enhancement of our communities.

The needs of the residents of this constituency are many and diverse and the resources to resolve these issues are scarce. I propose to establish groups in every community to identify their problems and concerns. Often, the needs of an individual are common to that of other residents of the same community. Community-based projects benefit every individual, those that are present as well as those to come. When we meet as a group, with other like-minded residents, strategies develop, opportunities are identified and people are empowered to face their issues and work together towards solving them. This will enable us to move away from old-style politics, from focus on I and a more equitable and sustainable focus on WE.

Lets us give thanks and praise to the Almighty for the great things done for us - for keeping our country peaceful during our recent elections, for allowing us to exercise our franchise freely, and ultimately, the stable environment in which we live. I wish to congratulate you on your conduct during the election period - a clear signal about the maturity of our democracy. Let us continue to demonstrate this spirit of goodwill and tolerance in all our undertakings.

I take the opportunity to thank all of you in Castries North for your support. I look forward to working with you in the New Year to undertake the many challenges of our communities as we seek to improve the quality of life for all. For those Constituents who I have not met personally, I look forward to meeting you early in the New Year.

I wish every one of you a Happy and Peaceful Christmas, and a Productive and Prosperous New Year. God Bless us all, and God Bless Saint Lucia.

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