Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Love and good neighbourliness at Christmas 2019
Prime Minister Dr The Hon Ralph E Gonsalves
Christmas Messages
December 20, 2019

Love and good neighbourliness at Christmas 2019

by DR THE HON RALPH E
GONSALVES
PRIME MINISTER

WE ARE GOOD-NATURED, CARING, AND LOVING

Overwhelmingly, the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines are good-natured, caring, and loving; we are instinctively good-neighbourly to one another. We tend not to like or approve of persons who are perpetually angry; the companions of anger are hate and malice. Our people usually reach out to each other with warmth, love, and a generosity of spirit. Our sense and sensibility which are grounded in the values and virtues of good-naturedness, caring, love, and good-neighborliness, are made manifest daily but especially so at Christmas time.

Our commemoration of the birth our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in what has become the season of Christmas, usually brings the best out of us in terms of giving, sharing, caring, and loving as we seek to reflect much of the spirit and teachings of Jesus.

AVOID INJURIOUS INTRUSIONS

Unfortunately, several other intrusions conspire to undermine this uplifting spirit of Jesus. First, there are some persons who parade their debilitating anger, malice, and hate; many spew these malignancies without any restraint in the virtual world of social media and in the real world of our communities. Secondly, some others are so self-absorbed, egotistical, and selfish that they have no concern for anyone but their individual selves. Thirdly, there are still others who are obsessed with excesses in shopping, drinking, and eating that they injure themselves and others in myriad of ways.

KEEP IT GOOD AND JOYOUS

It would be wonderful if we can all embrace, and act upon, the true spirit of Christmas as reflected in Jesus Christ. Is it too much to hope for a multitude of individual acts of kindness, caring, and loving rather than anger, hate, and malice? Can we have a Christmas season without drunkenness, violent crimes, assaults on women and children, senseless vehicular accidents occasioned by drunk driving and excessive speed? Can we have a season with a wholesome communion between the youths and the elderly? Can we have peace and goodwill between us all? Can we avoid religious or political divisiveness over the Christmas season 2019? Can we focus on uplifting things, sober enjoyment, and joyous reflection? Can we just simply enjoy our traditional Christmas of family, friendship, and good-neighbourliness within the liveliness and holiness of our joyous culture?

PEACE AND GOODWILL

The peace, goodwill, love, and caring of Christmas begin with each of us. It cannot be imposed. We can, however, help to bring “the good” out of each other.

I am deliberately avoiding any political discussion; there would be lots of time for politics next year; but for now, let us celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the way we know it is right and proper to do. Let us do justly, love mercy and goodness, and walk humbly with our God. And let each of us remember to help at least one person who is in need of help. Those who give lovingly and those who receive gratefully are always blessed.
A blessed and joyous Christmas to all Vincentians at home and abroad!

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Front Page
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    FAMILY MEMBERS of a woman who was killed at Long Wall say they suspect their relative was hacked by a person they all know very well. On Tuesday, Sept...
    NDP never built a single house in SVG – Finance Minister
    Front Page
    NDP never built a single house in SVG – Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE IDEA THAT HOUSING is a right, that every Vincentian has a right to safe and secure housing, and that the government has a role to play in ensuring...
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Front Page
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A POLICE OFFICER, who allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend 26 times about her body was remanded even as his lawyer argued that the Royal St Vincent and...
    New ULP Administration will roll out AI policy
    Front Page
    New ULP Administration will roll out AI policy
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A NEW UNITY LABOUR PARTY ADMINISTRATION will be rolling out an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to embrace its positives and guard against the nega...
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversary
    Front Page
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversary
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 9,2025 was a memorable day for the staff and students of the Sandy Bay Secondary School, which was marking its 20th anniversary wi...
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    News
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    NON- NATIONALS ARE being hired to fill several jobs in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) simply because locals did not have the required skill sets....
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    News
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Montgomery Daniel has sought to clear around rumours that have been circulating relating to his health. Speaking on NBC radio on...
    $1.3 billion in Tourism investment to yield 2,000 jobs – Camillo
    News
    $1.3 billion in Tourism investment to yield 2,000 jobs – Camillo
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    The GOVERNMENT of St Vincent and the Grenadines is set to sign agreements for tourism investment of $1.3 billion on mainland St.Vincent. On Monday, Se...
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    From the Courts, News
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A BARROUALLIE MAN will be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to being in illegal possession of a firearm and eight rounds of ammunition. Demron...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok