My fellow Anguillians, it is with tremendous gratitude that I greet you in this New Year 2020. Indeed, God has been good to us; He has kept us and preserved us to be able to witness this new decade. Many of us, in our young and formative years, never thought or dreamed of ever seeing the year 2020. So much has changed in the world, in technology, in communications, in economies and in everyday life. And while we must adapt to these changes, there are a few things that remain constant throughout all ages:
• Love. God’s Love endures. It is the very fibre of our humanity and it is the foundation of our nation – love for our neighbour and love for family. This love is what bonds us together in unity, and it is the anchor through the storms of life and challenging times. We are One Family, bonded by God’s Love and a powerful force for good in this country and in our world.
• Hope. It was Emily Dickinson who said, “Hope is the thing with feathers. That perches in the soul. And sings the tune without the words. And never stops at all”. In this New Year, feel free to hope again; to dream your dreams again; to lift up your heads and stretch your wings again. In this year, 2020, you have the opportunity to start again, to imagine greater and to achieve more. Never allow the naysayers to stop you from fulfilling your purpose and destiny on this earth.
• Faith. It is our connection to our Heavenly Father. Without Faith, it is impossible to please God. No matter what circumstances you may be facing today, know that all things are working together for your good. When we put our faith and trust in God, then we can rest assured we are in good hands and He will prepare the way. All that we must do is to walk in the direction in which He is leading us. As a nation, let us do more to reconnect with our spiritual values and our guiding light.
For many of us, a New Year is also a time to make new resolutions, to set goals and targets. You may be thinking of starting a business, stepping out of your comfort zone, building relationships, contributing more to your community, furthering your education, or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This is an important time to sit back, meditate and seek clarity and direction on the way forward in your personal life. Whatever you have set out to accomplish in 2020, I wish you all the best in the pursuit of your personal goals and aspirations.
As the election campaign goes into overdrive in this New Year, let us not become side-tracked by empty promises, or compromise our own personal integrity for opportunistic and selfish political gains. Anguilla is in great need of citizens who put their country first above all else. This is the only way in which we will be able to break free of the bonds of mental slavery and heal the open wounds of division, exclusion and strife. Let us not participate in being part of the problem, but rather let us work together to be part of the solution.
The challenges we face are numerous, but the political warfare has left many casualties – and the time has come for us to actively resist and rebuke this “business as usual” form of politics and governance. We know that real change starts with the realization that every Anguillian matters – regardless of where they come from, what colour they are, or what pedigree or social status they are ascribed.
Just imagine, an Anguilla where we all work together for the best outcomes for all our people. This is only possible when we understand that we are One People, One Family and One Anguilla. Breathe in and feel the Love. I urge you in this heightened political climate to do as our ancestors would advise – “try the spirits”. We cannot afford to be fooled by persons who claim to represent change when their steps and speech are ordered by those behind the scenes who operate in deception and lies. How can anything good manifest itself from this type of arrangement? We need honesty, transparency, and accountability in our electoral process and in governance. The people of Anguilla, in 2020, must demand it – and I pledge always to continue exemplifying it. BE the Change!
I wish you a bright, healthy and prosperous New Year – with renewed Love, Hope and Faith to take us into this new decade that is now before us. May God bless richly each and everyone – and bless Anguilla always.
