Christmas Message 2022: Christmas is a time for family

President of the Democratic Labour Party Dr Ronnie Yearwood.

It has been a long and hard year. In fact, for many of us, the past few years have been a struggle. 

While it would be tempting to dwell on this hardship, let’s take this time to appreciate our blessings. Of course, the hardships won’t disappear, but taking a moment to appreciate the positive aspects within our lives and the meaning of Christmas is the welcomed mental break many of us need.

For this season of love and giving, let’s live with the spirit of Christmas in our hearts and share the love of Christmas with each other because Christmas is a time of family – your family at home, the friends you love so much that they become family, your community family, your church family, your work family and your social media family. Family are the ones who support us during the rough spots. They win with us, laugh with us and at us and cry with us. Yes, it sometimes feels like we can’t live with them, but most certainly, we can’t live without them.

Christmas is a time of hope and that hope must begin with family. From the birth of Jesus Christ, it was a new beginning for all families to support and inspire each other wherever we find darkness or hardship.

This love can also be shared with your extended family that includes your nurses, police, barbers, hairdressers, nail-techs, community shopkeepers, social workers, cleaners, teachers and many others. Every day, I get to meet amazing Bajans doing amazing things, helping others. They do so with no aim for reward. Their stories are at the heart of Christmas. 

To those who open their kitchens and their hearts to someone in need of a hand up to help themselves, we thank all of you. Your names may not be in any earthly books but you are seen and loved.

We can rebuild Barbados together, and we can only do that as a family. You are our Bajan family, and we are yours. 

Merry Christmas and blessings to each and everyone one of you, from my Democratic Labour Party family and from my family to your family.