The current period, though tainted by politics in an election year, is all about the festive season in Anguilla and the true meaning of Christmas. This is rightly so because it is a time for peace, love and hope for all mankind as proclaimed at the birth of the Christ Child nearly two thousand years ago in Bethlehem. It is also a time for humility as evidenced by that sacred and significant Nativity in a lonely manger.

For us, frail human beings, we should almost shout: Away with pride and bigotry! Away with selfishness and greed!! Give us a spirit of sacrificial love and caring for our fellowmen!!! Unfortunately, we are now a far cry from that declaration, caught up in a world of turmoil, hate and even despair, because of our own folly and the pursuit of the wrong path of life.

We need to observe the warning and stopping signs in the path of life and get back to a position where we can rediscover and recapture what Christmas is all about and what our responsibilities are as a Christian people. Thankfully, it is a message that still resounds from our religious pulpits around the island and even from the rostrums and pens of our political leaders and aspirants, despite the materialism and unbelief sweeping across the world. “Don’t let anyone tell you ‘Happy Holidays’. It is Christmas for us,” Reverend Dr. H. Clifton Niles, Superintendent of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit, said a few days ago, referring to the waning spiritual regard for the season.

Christmas is a time of sacrificial giving and reconciliation and the climatic event of the year. It affords us an opportunity to look back over the past twelve months, see our shortcomings or successes as a people, and helps us to prepare to make important resolutions in the New Year to enhance our diverse state of affairs. Here in Anguilla, we have suffered the effects of the world-wide recession and have hopefully learnt from our mistakes in the process. Financially, it is not a good time, for many of our people, because of the slowed economy, job loss and unemployment generally but, hard as it is, our resilient people are finding it possible to enjoy the spirit of Christmas as indicated by the spate of entertainment and festive decorations around the island.

We are in a very active general election campaign. It is the most intense electioneering canvassing ever witnessed in Anguilla and everywhere across the island are posters to that effect. Though the political campaign is hot and bruising, it is soothing to see that tempers are not getting out of control and there is no associated violence as in other places. It is hoped that the Christmas spirit of peace and love will continue to permeate the campaigning and eventually the actual election in the New Year. It is noted that the various parties have taken a break from the fiery rostrums as they observe a welcome truce for Christmas. It is a truce everyone would like to see hold out, in terms of a peaceful manner, when the electioneering resumes and later enters its most critical stages in the countdown to Election Day.

It is also hoped that the burglars and other criminal elements in Anguilla will not just observe a truce for Christmas, but will in fact forsake their unlawful activities altogether and become productive and honest citizens in our fair land. Let us all unite in the spirit of Christmas to spread concord, reconciliation and love across our beloved island home, and may Christ, the Prince of Peace, bless us in our noble efforts. A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE.

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