PM urges Barbadians to unite and make the most of the gift of life

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has warned that Barbadians will need to rely on each other more in the months ahead, as they remain vigilant and help to stave off threats associated with the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.

Giving the assurance that her administration continues to “fight the good fight” against the spread of the virus, the Prime Minister also reminded residents in her Christmas message that they have a lot to be thankful for including life.

“Now, more than ever, we must remember to show one another the kind of selfless love that has spurred our forefathers’ success in building this nation of ours that we call home. While it is traditional to come together during this time of year, we need now more than ever, and I say again, more than ever to stay together and to be our brothers and sisters keepers. These are not just idle words that I’m using, but this is what we need in the months, in the years ahead,” she said.

Wishing Barbadians a relaxing and healthy Christmas, the Prime Minister promised to detail her vision for 2021 “at a later date”.

Nevertheless, Mottley gave the assurance that her administration would continue to do what was best in the interest of Barbados as it continues to wrestle with effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we have done since the start of the year, the Government of Barbados will keep a close eye on what happens next. We will make sure that we listen to the experts and we will be prepared to act decisively to protect the lives of all Barbadians, as we have been doing during the course of 2020,” Mottley assured.

“The target we must set for ourselves, therefore, in 2021, as citizens and residents, is to continue mitigating the knock-on effect of COVID-19 on all of our health services. To put it simply, when we minimize the number of cases of COVID-19, we conversely maximize access to health care and the resources for our non-COVID patients and we have seen it over the course of the last eight months.

“It is therefore imperative, my friends, that in 2021 we continue to heed the advice given by our health officials and that we hold each other accountable for making the right decisions. This conscientiousness will in turn lighten the load for those responsible for delivering what will be, next year, the biggest immunization programme in this country’s history,” she explained.

She urged Barbadians not to allow complacency to unravel the hard work and progress over the past year, adding that it was important “for us all to benefit from being vigilant day, by day, by day, even Christmas Day”.

In her message, Mottley acknowledged frontline workers, saying they have “raised the bar for selfless acts of patriotism”, and she lauded essential workers and law enforcement officials for maintaining a sense of normalcy throughout the year and for keeping residents safe.

“While we shower them with deserved adulation, let us go one step further as brothers and sisters and help them where we can. We cannot betray their hard work by taking this pandemic for granted or by letting our guard down just because we believe that it is under control in Barbados. Every day must count,” she cautioned.

Mottley, who said she was confident the pandemic would soon be referred to as something of the past, also encouraged residents to use this period to sharpen their skills and learn new ones

“And I want us to recognize that while we may be blessed, do not ever take these blessings for granted. Make the most of the gift of life. And yes, each one touch one, even if virtually today. One of the biggest lessons we would have been reminded of this year, is that we all need each other – all of us,” said Mottley.

“From here onward, I want our community spirit to mirror our Christmas spirit. Remember, as we do so, practice makes permanent. And if we can make a habit of this, then that habit of shining light on the ones among us who are most vulnerable, will make sure that they too will rise up and be able to survive the greatest of challenges. We will do that by putting their needs ahead of our wants.

“I want to assure you that such sacrifices, my friends, will not be in vain, because we can only beat COVID with strength in numbers. Every citizen and every resident of Barbados has a part to play in this fight against this dreaded disease. Only through working together, believe you me, only through working together can we move past the uncertainty and march towards the light that we know is at the end of this tunnel,” she said.