Liberal Party our warmest greetings and best wishes to all of you during this most joyous of holiday seasons.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Ramadan or Hanukkah, this season is a time for us to reflect individually and as a nation on the past year. It is also an opportunity to look to the year ahead and to think about the things for which we are thankful.

As we reflect on the past year, we must recognise that change does not occur from merely reflecting on the past but from learning from our mistakes. From Front Street to Court Street, from Government House to the House of Assembly we must pledge to improve and grow as a society. We must overcome partisan differences and work together with the philosophy of doing what is best for our community, not what is best for our individual, selfish goals. We must recognise that it is never too late to change, for parents to share in the responsibility of raising and supporting their children, for our children to reach for their potential and for our elected officials to live up to their promises.

We have all fallen short of the glory of God, but with a new day comes a new opportunity to reach within for the greatness that is our birthright.

Sometimes in the hustle of life we forget that the true meaning of Christmas was given to us by the angelic host that holy night long ago. Christmas is the commemoration of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, whose message would truly be one of good tidings and great joy, peace and goodwill. It has been said that all the kings who ever reigned, that all of the Parliaments that have ever sat have not done as much to advance the cause of peace on Earth and good will to men as the man from Galilee. During this glorious festival let us renew our determination to follow his example.

As families and friends join together to renew the spirit of peace, faith and giving which has always marked the character of our people, in our moment of quite reflection, I know we will remember our fellow Bermudians who may be lonely and in need. I urge you to reach out to them not only in your prayers, but doing your part to make their Christmas a little brighter.

With patience and faith we can build a better Bermuda where the Christmas spirit of peace, hope and love is the spirit that Bermudians carry in their hearts all year-round. We hope that this Christmas will be especially wonderful and will usher in a new year of peace and prosperity. May the feeling of love and cheer fill the hearts of everyone throughout this holiday reason and the coming year.