in this Section
the Governor's Speeches
GOVERNOR’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2014
My Fellow Sint Maarteners,
I extend Christmas greetings to you and your family. May your season be filled with the promise of Christmas, for Christmas is the Season of Peace. As we celebrate this Christmas amidst challenges at home and conflicts and threats in various regions of our world, let you and I do our part to live in accordance with the promise of Christmas as worded by the song writer Vince Gill:
“Let peace begin with me, Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment, In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me”
Because our individual and collective peace offers the serenity and harmony necessary to bridge differences and remedy the issues challenging our community. That is to address issue such as social imbalances, health threats, financial constraints and political and community tensions. In celebrating this season I trust that we will find the strength and courage embedded in peace to dedicate towards that which is genuinely meaningful, a compassionate, strong, happy and just Sint Maarten society. A society of inhabitants thankful for our many blessings, focused on promoting and supporting harmony in our society, with responsive to the needs of the less fortunate and proactive in a remedying the ills in our society. For there is no better way to express our gratitude, as recipients of the wonderful gift of Christmas, than to spread peace and harmony among our brothers and sisters starting at home.
Thus as we celebrate the birth of Christ amongst family and friends and come to the close of 2014, I encourage you to embrace the enduring love and peace of the season now and into the new year with the purpose of the perfecting the quality of life of the people of our island nation.
From Marie-Louise and I, to your family, we wish you joyous, safe and peace filled holidays with the sustaining grace and love of Christmas! God bless you and God bless Sint Maarten.
The Governor of Sint Maarten
Eugene B. Holiday