By-Thomson Fontaine, PhD, Political Leader, the United Workers Party
Fellow Dominicans, during this joyous Christmas season, I wish to extend holiday greetings to all of you at home and abroad. As we celebrate the birth of Chris,t may joy, hope, and peace fill our hearts now and always.
While we may differ in political views, Christmas reminds us that we share many things in common, including love for our families, pride in our beautiful country, and a desire for a fairer, more prosperous future for all our people. As Leader of the United Workers Party Team Dominica, I reaffirm our commitment to holding the government accountable and to working constructively for policies that improve the lives of ordinary people.
Christmas is also a season for reflection that reminds us of compassion, hope, and the power of unity.
It calls on us to look out for our neigbours and friends, especially the vulnerable, the sick, the elderly, and those facing hardship. In a year that has brought its share of economic, social, and other challenges, this spirit of generosity and understanding is more important than ever.
Over the past year, many of us have had to face major health challenges or deal with the loss of loved ones. It is possible that we were confronted with serious financial and personal problems, which continue to this day. It could be the pain that comes from not being able to find a job or working for low wages. The struggle is real in our Dominican context, especially when faced with rising prices, poor health services, and a falling standard of living.
Because we understand the pain that confronts our Nation, we wish to remind our people of the ‘Ten Pillars to Shared Prosperity.’ These are policies that the UWP has proposed that we are confident will tackle rising unemployment, stimulate economic growth, reverse the decline in our health and social services, create jobs and opportunities for our youth, and return our country to good and accountable governance.
In the year ahead, we will continue to draw strength and wisdom from each other as we forge into the future. So let us work together towards building a country for which we can all be proud.
One that caters to the needs of all and not a select few. Together, we can face the challenges that are yet to emerge and overcome each one as we act together in unity and shared purpose. We have a country to build, so let us seize this opportunity.
Continued wishes to all my fellow Dominicans for a wonderful, bright, and prosperous New Year, as we move ahead with respect and love towards each other.