Christmas Message 2004 from the Leader of the Opposition

These days, the Christmas season seems to begin in October and end in January in a blur of bright lights, parties and frantic activity. It's easy to see how the real meaning of Christmas gets lost in busy holiday calendars. But what most of us remember about Christmas ? and really look forward to ? are the small moments of wonder, joy and hope found in abundance here in Bermuda, as long as we take the time to recognise them.

Our schoolchildren take pride in preparing carefully for Christmas concerts, and their parents, cheerfully crowded together in auditoriums and church halls, watch with joyful hearts and a tear in their eyes. That's the wonder of Christmas.

Generous Bermudians gladly contribute to food hampers for the needy and give toys to children who would otherwise go without. That's the spirit of Christmas.

Our churches, filled with worshippers of many different Christian denominations, hold beautiful services of music and prayer that celebrate the birth of the Christ child. That's the hope of Christmas.

And when Christmas day finally arrives, we celebrate the season surrounded by friends and family, opening gifts, carving turkeys and enjoying cassava pie. That's the joy of Christmas.

The Christmas season encourages us to reflect on the purpose of our lives, rejoice in our blessings and give thanks. In Bermuda, we have special reason to give thanks this year. Unlike our neighbours to the south, we were spared the wrath of four hurricanes that pounded the Caribbean and Florida. With the memory of Hurricane Fabian still fresh in our minds, Bermudians have been generous, reaching out to those in the Cayman Islands, Grenada and other islands who have experienced sorrow and loss. We extend our thanks to the members of the Bermuda Regiment and Police Service who volunteered for duty in the Caribbean to help those in need.

This is a time for all of us in Bermuda to reflect and recommit ourselves to the lessons of love and reconciliation that we learned from the Christ child born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.

It is a special time in Bermuda to recognise what connects us ? as a community, as families and as friends. It is a time to reaffirm the enduring values shared by all Bermudians, including the importance of family, the need to care for each other and the value of good will as we work together for a better future.

This is also a special Christmas for the United Bermuda Party as we celebrate 40 years of service to the community. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate the principles that brought our founders together in the challenging decade of the sixties.

They believed in the great strength of inclusion and unity, and their belief that Bermudians of all races should work together as equal partners to move Bermuda ahead is as important now as it was then.

This Christmas, we will give special thanks to our predecessors and indeed those from all parties who have served in Parliament and worked towards a better Bermuda. On behalf of my colleagues in the United Bermuda Party and my family, I extend best wishes to each and every one of you for a happy and safe holiday season and a prosperous and healthy New Year.