SIR PATRICK ALLEN GOVERNOR GENERAL
The following are lighting edited versions of the Christmas messages of the nation’s leaders.
We have come through a turbulent year that started with great hope and promises. We anticipated that 2020 would be a year of transformation in our homes, personal lives, communities, and our nation.
Unfortunately, that was not the reality, because by the end of the first quarter the dreaded novel coronavirus pandemic had hit our shores, radically altering our lives in unexpected and undesirable ways. But we rose to the challenge and initially did well in keeping down the infection and death rate by adhering to the protocols of social distancing, sanitising, wearing masks, adhering to curfews, among other things. We learnt to conduct our daily lives differently and sometimes more efficiently with the increased use of technology for doing business, educational activities, religious, entertainment, ceremonial, and other functions and services.
Most importantly, we did not surrender to the pandemic, even though we don’t have the vaccine available yet in Jamaica. We resorted to our inner strength, our fortitude, and core beliefs, confident as our Jamaican poet Claude Mckay wrote, “If we must die... pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!”
We are known globally as a people who do so much with so little, because we are resilient. We have faced hardships and difficulties in the past and have triumphed. Let us do it again, united as a family, aspiring and achieving together.
This past year we saw the challenges bringing out the best in our people, in our companies, groups, organisations, entertainers, and the Government — all found ways to help people who lost jobs, needed food, health, educational supplies and instructions. I’m so proud of those who were, and still are, exercising a duty of care to our people.
Sadly, in the struggle we lost some of our loved ones, including many of our entertainers. My sincere condolence to those who lost family members, friends, or acquaintances due to the virus, road accidents, murders, or natural causes, including flooding.
For those who are still rebuilding their lives I ask that neighbours, family, friends, and corporate Jamaica lend a helping hand as we continue to demonstrate that, truly, we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper.
I will always believe in the goodness of our people and I encourage everyone to continue to believe in Jamaica and, despite the challenges, let us never give up.
This Christmas, as we gather in our homes, or our groups, let us remember that “out of adversity comes opportunity” – opportunity to know each other better, to deepen family bonds, play together, pray together, or do what you do best together.
Lady Allen joins me in wishing each one of you a peaceful, sober, reflective, and safe Holiday Season.
God bless you and God bless Jamaica, land we love.