Welcome to Bahamas Local, Your Bahamas Online Search Engine

Christmas Message from Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham

Fri, Dec 24th 2010, 12:00 AM
Politics

I extend best wishes to Bahamians everywhere and to all those visiting with

us at this time of year a very Merry Christmas.
Christmas is the happiest of religious celebrations in our country marked by
family gathering, religious services and Junkanoo.
This year Christmas comes as The Bahamas is about to experience the
beginnings of an economic turn around; a true gift for many Bahamian
families facing job losses and reduced incomes during the past two years of
global and domestic recession.
It is inspiring that the downturn in the economy never dampened the fervour
of our people to prepare for and mark this special Season. Again this year,
our traditional spirit of generosity and of sharing is evident.
Conscious of the continued tenuous global economy we continue to manage
our economy prudently and sensibly so as to ensure that we are well placed
to benefit from the global recovery as it occurs. Our carefulness in the
management of our economy permits us to preserve jobs in the public sector
and to avoid the reduction of salaries experienced in many developed and
developing countries.
We continue the substantial programme of public works in New Providence
and in our Family Islands creating employment for hundreds, bolstering
economic activity and placing us in a better position to compete when
economic recovery is at hand.
We continue training and retraining programmes particularly for those
suffering job losses so as to assist them in finding new employment or in
becoming productively self-employed. And, we are extending increased
social assistance to those most in need.
We now expect that new and additional private sector investments will
combine with the Governments infrastructural development projects to make
2011 economically better for more people than was 2010.
We have been saddened this year by the stubborn persistence of violent
crime which has marred the lives of too many of our people especially in
New Providence. We especially lament the number of young people who
have become ensnared by criminal activity.
I and my colleagues in the Government remain fully committed to doing
all within our capacity to remove the criminal elements from our streets. If
we are to remove their influence over our whole communities however, we
need, and call for, the full support of the good and law-abiding majority of
our people.
Notwithstanding the past difficult year we have reason to give thanks and
to look to the future with hope. In so many respects, The Bahamas has
been fortunate when compared to some in both developed and developing
countries.
We were again this year spared from the ravages of hurricanes or other
natural disaster.
We can rejoice in the knowledge that the overwhelming majority of our
young people are on the right track. They continue to pursue with good
results academic studies, sports, the arts and business. I am always happy to
recognize and acknowledge their accomplishments.
We must be especially pleased and grateful for the thousands of our citizens
who, on a voluntary basis, give of their time and talents daily to improve the
social fabric of our nation.
Working in youth groups, social clubs, service clubs, charitable
organizations and churches, they bring comfort to the aged and infirm, help
to the needy, and direction and inspiration to the youth. For them we are
thankful.
We appreciate also the thousands of public servants who do their best in
their various areas of responsibility to advance the business of the country,
who teach our children, who work around the clock to protect our health
and safety, and who guard our borders and territorial integrity as well as our
property both public and private.
As is required of them, many will be on duty again this year during the
holiday season so that the rest of us can enjoy the celebrations in safety. For
them we are thankful.
My family and my colleagues in the Government join me in wishing each
and every one of you, and the strangers within our gates, a blessed Christmas
and a happy and safe holiday season.
Thank you.

I extend best wishes to Bahamians everywhere and to all those visiting withus at this time of year a very Merry Christmas.

Christmas is the happiest of religious celebrations in our country marked byfamily gathering, religious services and Junkanoo.

This year Christmas comes as The Bahamas is about to experience thebeginnings of an economic turn around; a true gift for many Bahamianfamilies facing job losses and reduced incomes during the past two years ofglobal and domestic recession.

It is inspiring that the downturn in the economy never dampened the fervourof our people to prepare for and mark this special Season. Again this year,our traditional spirit of generosity and of sharing is evident.

Conscious of the continued tenuous global economy we continue to manageour economy prudently and sensibly so as to ensure that we are well placedto benefit from the global recovery as it occurs. Our carefulness in themanagement of our economy permits us to preserve jobs in the public sectorand to avoid the reduction of salaries experienced in many developed anddeveloping countries.

We continue the substantial programme of public works in New Providenceand in our Family Islands creating employment for hundreds, bolsteringeconomic activity and placing us in a better position to compete wheneconomic recovery is at hand.

We continue training and retraining programmes particularly for thosesuffering job losses so as to assist them in finding new employment or inbecoming productively self-employed. And, we are extending increasedsocial assistance to those most in need.

We now expect that new and additional private sector investments willcombine with the Governments infrastructural development projects to make2011 economically better for more people than was 2010.

We have been saddened this year by the stubborn persistence of violentcrime which has marred the lives of too many of our people especially inNew Providence. We especially lament the number of young people whohave become ensnared by criminal activity.

I and my colleagues in the Government remain fully committed to doingall within our capacity to remove the criminal elements from our streets. Ifwe are to remove their influence over our whole communities however, weneed, and call for, the full support of the good and law-abiding majority ofour people.

Notwithstanding the past difficult year we have reason to give thanks andto look to the future with hope. In so many respects, The Bahamas hasbeen fortunate when compared to some in both developed and developingcountries.

We were again this year spared from the ravages of hurricanes or othernatural disaster.

We can rejoice in the knowledge that the overwhelming majority of ouryoung people are on the right track. They continue to pursue with goodresults academic studies, sports, the arts and business. I am always happy torecognize and acknowledge their accomplishments.

We must be especially pleased and grateful for the thousands of our citizens who, on a voluntary basis, give of their time and talents daily to improve thesocial fabric of our nation.

Working in youth groups, social clubs, service clubs, charitableorganizations and churches, they bring comfort to the aged and infirm, helpto the needy, and direction and inspiration to the youth. For them we arethankful.
We appreciate also the thousands of public servants who do their best intheir various areas of responsibility to advance the business of the country,

who teach our children, who work around the clock to protect our healthand safety, and who guard our borders and territorial integrity as well as ourproperty both public and private.

As is required of them, many will be on duty again this year during theholiday season so that the rest of us can enjoy the celebrations in safety. Forthem we are thankful.

My family and my colleagues in the Government join me in wishing eachand every one of you, and the strangers within our gates, a blessed Christmasand a happy and safe holiday season.

Thank you.

 

 

 Sponsored Ads