I am Harold Lovell, Political Leader of the United Progressive Party, and on behalf of our Party Executive and members, I bring New Year’s greetings and continued hope to our supporters, friends and, indeed, to the Nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
The year behind us will be remembered, one way or another, for the impact it has had on our lives. For many, there would have been disappointments but we are a resilient and dynamic people. I know that this Nation can and will rise; I am convinced that this Nation, can and will do much better than we are doing today.
Our global ranking for ease of doing business continues to slide downwards and the economy with its average to under performance continues to challenge both established businesses and start-ups alike.
Tax revenues have dipped and tax compliance has dropped. Meanwhile, Government borrowing and the cost of living have increased to a frightening level.
Despite an additional one billion dollars generated by the Citizenship by Investment Programme , our quality of life has not improved. We are plagued by: extremely bad roads; an unreliable public health system; deteriorating sanitation services; continuing water woes and the lack of other basic services. That we are NOT doing well as a country is borne out by: the plight of the Social Security pensioners; the residents of the Fiennes Institute; the Staff at the Clare Vue Hospital; the workers at the Government Housing Project and at ABS Radio and TV; the inmates of Her Majesty’s Prison; even the Police officers, whose stations are crumbling around them.
In the face of all that confronts us it would be easy to despair: But, we, the United Progressive Party, still carry Hope.
That hope like a torch refuses to go out.
Even on a dark, wet, and windy night we remain the light of possibility.
As we step into this New Year, this Party is readying itself for the rescue that this country surely, certainly and undoubtedly needs.
I take this moment to specifically recognize our sister island and to thank the many nations and international partners who came to her assistance after the passage of Hurricane Irma. Perhaps even more importantly, however, I thank the Barbudans for their example of how to hold onto one’s heritage and to hand down one’s legacy.
Sisters and brothers of Barbuda, the United Progressive Party will continue to support your efforts to retain your peaceful piece of God’s green earth while encouraging meaningful economic development on the island.
Fellow citizens and residents, we can look back and murmur about the losses and regrets, of March 2018, or, as our National Anthem says, we can gird our loins and join the battle to stop the slippage, and to reclaim and redeem Antigua and Barbuda.
My beloved Nation, we celebrate the brave endeavors and heroic achievements of our nationals who have rowed across the Atlantic and now we are looking forward to welcoming our four brave young women who are set to make history. We also applaud Mrs. Rosemary McMaster for the international acclaim which Susie’s Hot Sauce continues to garner and we were thankful to experience the rededication of the historic St John’s Cathedral in 2018.
As we enter the New Year, I declare 2019 as:
The year of renewed faith in our Creator who makes all things possible;
The year of renewed awareness of our self-worth and awakened pride in this, the place of our birth or allegiance;
The year of continued resistance to, the forces of dictatorship, nepotism, creative self-enrichment, loss of patrimony, and division;
And the year of Hope when personal ethics, national pride and the empowerment of all are not only pursued, but attained.
This is my hope for the Nation. This is my wish for the Nation. This is my prayer for the Nation.
May our Good God heal, keep and bless Antigua and Barbuda.
