Christmas Message from; Hon. Edwin A. Astwood The Leader of the Opposition

#TurksandCaicos, December 23, 2022 – My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders and all other residents of our beloved country, I wish you a Merry Christmas from my family to all our people at home and abroad, and a happy and safe holiday season. I do so from my Office as Leader of the opposition, and Leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement, an office to which I have ascended with a sense of humility, honor, and commitment.

Those of us who celebrate the birth of Christ do so with feelings of great joy in remembrance of his arrival in Bethlehem. His teachings tell us the importance of Charity, Love, forgiveness, and courage. At this time, we must share our expressions of joy and celebration with those less fortunate among us.

This Christmas many families will not be able to celebrate the holidays as they did in times before. This may be, regrettably, a result of the loss of a parent, a child, a grandparent, or a dear friend.  Others may be separated from loved ones due to them now living abroad. Let’s remember them, and visit them where possible.

We must remember that there are those amongst us who will not experience the joy of unwrapping a gift on Christmas morning or the smell of a baking ham or turkey. I know that most of us who have jobs had to cut back on our spending and stretch our dollars as far as they would go, as the cost of living in the country has greatly increased.

Additionally, many of us know at least one family that is struggling to provide even the basics. I ask that you find it in your hearts to share something with the less fortunate among us. Each one of us can make a difference in making someone else Christmas a joyous season.

Let us renew and live the teachings of our parents and grandparents, and of Christ himself to love one another, to be tolerant, to be honest, to respect each other, and to care and share. And if we all can express this throughout the year our people will strive once more. There is no better time to start than this Advent season.

I look forward in the New Year to continuing to meet and talk with you about how as a country and as individuals we can improve our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor collectively, and make a contribution to building our Turks and Caicos.

Importantly I look forward to discussing truly our sense of a people, who we are, where we want to be, and how we will get there.

May Peace and Happiness be with you, and may God give us the courage to face 2023 with love, fortitude, and compassion.

Have an Awesome Christmas.