Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is urging citizens “to never despair” despite all the challenges the country is facing.
In her Christmas greetings to the nation, she said she knew it was a difficult time for many people to feel festive, especially when those who govern the country appear to have abdicated their responsibility to citizens, choosing to abandon the poor and vulnerable and thousands of others who face uncertainty as the year comes to an end.
She said, “Children have been victims of heinous crimes, parents and grandparents are at the mercy of rapists and murderers. Women and girls are disappearing, while an uncaring and impotent administration washes its hands like Pontius Pilate, refusing to take responsibility for protecting citizens.”
She said this Christmas, countless families were unable to find shelter or buy food and other necessities.
“My thoughts are with the thousands of people who have lost jobs, and who have little hope of finding an alternative means of survival. Even those who have incomes are finding difficulty in coping as the cost of living escalates, with a promise of more hardships to come,” she added. “Still I ask you, my fellow citizens, to never despair.”
Persad-Bissessar urged the population to continue to take courage and work together to address the challenges, saying each person had an important role to play in strengthening unity in the nation, and in moving the country forward.
“Today, in spite of our adversity we have one another. Let us share that which money cannot buy, as we reflect on the Son of God who came to us in the humblest surroundings. He had nothing to give but love and compassion, delivered with humility. He taught us how to live,” she said.