2009 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

TO

THE NATION

BY

HIS EXCELLENCY

THE HONOURABLE ARTHUR D. HANNA

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

OF

THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS  
 
 
 
 
 

“FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN; AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER; AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.”  

MY FELLOW BAHAMIANS, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE BAHAMAS, GREETINGS; AND I WISH YOU PEACE.  

OVER 2000 YEARS AGO, THE PRINCE OF PEACE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS AND THE ANGELS SANG, “PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN”. 

DURING THIS HOLY SEASON WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, I ASK YOU TO JOIN WITH ME AND PRAY FOR PEACE: PEACE IN OUR HEARTS, PEACE IN OUR HOMES, PEACE ON OUR STREETS, PEACE IN OUR NATION, AND INDEED PEACE IN THE WORLD.  

AT THIS TIME WE REMEMBER THE MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE ON PEACE KEEPING MISSIONS. I ASK ALL BAHAMIANS TO PRAY FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE IN HARM’S WAY, AND ALSO PRAY FOR THEIR FAMILIES.  

MY FELLOW BAHAMIANS, 2009 HAS BEEN A TURBULENT YEAR FOR THE BAHAMAS FOR WE HAVE HAD MANY CHALLENGES. GOING INTO  

THE NEW YEAR, WE WILL STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE MANY SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, BUT I HAVE HOPE.  

I AM PERSUADED THAT BAHAMIANS DO HAVE THE WILL AND THE WHEREWITHAL TO SUCCESSFULLY MEET THE CHALLENGES CONFRONTING US, WITH THE HELP OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BAHAMIANS WITH THIS SAME HOPE AND MINDSET.  

I RECALL PAST SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONTED THE BAHAMAS AND HOW WE BAHAMIANS AS A PEOPLE WITH ONE VOICE, AND DOGGED DETERMINATION, SUCCESSFULLY MET THOSE CHALLENGES.  

MY FELLOW BAHAMIANS, THERE IS ONLY ONE FREE AND SOVEREIGN STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS; WE ARE ONE PEOPLE. AS A PEOPLE, WE ARE CALLED TO PRESERVE OUR WAY OF LIFE.  

I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO EARNESTLY AND PRAYERFULLY SEEK TO PRESERVE OUR TRADITIONS AND DO NOT ALLOW THE THIEF TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY WHAT WE HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO BUILD AND ESTABLISH.  

BAHAMIANS, LET US STAND UP, AND DO OUR PART IN COMBATING CRIME AND CRIMINALITY, AND ALL THAT MAKE TO DESTROY OUR WAY OF LIFE.  
 

THE BAHAMAS IS STILL A BLESSED NATION AND WE HAVE MANY THINGS FOR WHICH TO GIVE GOD THANKS. WE THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE, MERCY AND LOVING KINDNESS. IN 2009 WE WERE SPARED THE RAVAGES OF HURRICANES. IN 2009, NOTWITHSTANDING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IN THE COUNTRY, MOST FAMILIES HAD BREAD ON THE TABLE AND A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.  

I AM ESPECIALLY THANKFUL TO THE PEOPLE OF THE BAHAMAS AND ALL OTHERS WHO SHOWED GREAT KINDNESS TO ME AND MY FAMILY DURING OUR RECENT LOST. IN NOVEMBER, I LAID TO REST MY BELOVED WIFE OF 59 YEARS, HER EXCELLENCY, THE LATE MRS. BERYL HANNA.  

I AM EVER SO GRATEFUL TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS FOR THE EXPRESSIONS OF KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY. I AM ALSO GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE WHO EXPRESSED IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, CONDOLENCES AND SYMPATHY. TO THE MANY THOUSANDS AT HOME AND ABROAD WHO WISHED ME AND MY FAMILY WELL DURING THE TIME OF OUR BEREAVEMENT, I SAY A HEARTFELT THANK YOU.  

CHRISTMAS IS A JOYOUS TIME; A TIME TO CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO WORSHIP AND ADORE THE CHRIST CHILD.  

DURING THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES, LET US REMEMBER TO GIVE TO THE LESS FORTUNATE AMONG US; AND BE MINDFUL OF THE ELDERLY, THE SICK AND SHUT IN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS; FOR WE ARE BLESSED, TO BE A BLESSING.  

BUT ABOVE ALL, LET US RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO SERVICE, ALWAYS TO THOSE WHO SUFFER THROUGH POVERTY, SICKNESS, IGNORANCE OR OTHERWISE FOR THERE IS NO

NOBLER GIFT WE CAN GIVE TO THE BAHAMAS AND HER PEOPLE.  

MAY THE GOD OF PEACE REIGN IN THE HEARTS OF MEN AND WOMEN.