Nevis’ National Christmas Tree – 2010
Charlestown, Nevis
December 23, 2010
Former cricketer and businessman Mr. William Griffin was the man in the spotlight when Premier of Nevis the Honourable Joseph Parry; Minister of Social Development the Honourable Hensley Daniel; residents of the St. Paul’s parish; and their Area Representative, the Honourable E. Robelto Hector gathered for the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree in the capital city.
The ceremony, chaired by General Manager of the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority Mr. Spencer Hanley, was held on the apron of the Nevis Public Library where officials overlooked the Christmas tree in the Memorial Square.
In addition to expressing season’s greetings on his family’s behalf, the social development minister challenged Nevisians to spread the Christmas cheer by maintaining a culture of peace that is “free of all crime and violence.”
This, he said will make “residents and visitors alike feel that we are doing the things that are necessary to make all of us happy.”
“The charge for all of us this Christmas season [is] to ensure that we keep our communities peaceful and spread the peace and joy of Christmas in every parish, in every village, in every family and among every relative so that as the song says, we will ensure that the peace begins with us.
“Crime and violence destabilizes our society and I want all of our young people to make this Christmas season a very peaceful one,” he said.
In admitting that Nevis had experienced “a difficult year economically,” Minister Daniel assured onlookers that his government demonstrated that it had Nevisians’ best interest at heart.
“I believe you can be proud of your government that we have been able to keep everybody employed and to keep disparity at a minimum and ensure that all of the people of Nevis were still able to get food, clothes and shelter; all of the basic necessities of life and as we move beyond the recession, you want to be grateful for your government for that,” he exclaimed.
Patron Griffin, in his remarks, echoed Minister Daniel’s sentiments and said that although many communities had “departed somewhat from the straight and narrow pathway,” a collective effort of the entire island will “make the change back to an atmosphere of purity.”
“We are all responsible. We need to now take the scourge that is destroying us in our hands and collectively make the change back to an atmosphere of purity. Our continued life of prosperity depends on this. We must do it. We can do it and we must begin now,” he said.
Mr. Griffin also recorded his appreciation
“I am happy that the Department of Community Affairs; an arm of the Nevis Island Government, has seen it fit to have me as the patron for this evening’s activity. I take it as a special acknowledgement that this is not given to many of our citizens so to them I say thank you.
“Many of us are silent “doers” who do not do things because we wish to be known but rather to make our communities a better place to live, to love, to respect, to be peaceful and to share with one another without prejudice.
Premier Parry and Minister Hector also provided remarks at the ceremony.
Related posts:
