Christmas comes around each year with a message of hope and good will, a reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that the struggles facing us are not insurmountable.
Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry highlighted this in his Christmas message saying Christ’s own message to the world is one of love, hope, peace, compassion and sacrifice.
Chaudhry says it is a message that he believes our current leaders may well draw inspiration from.
He says for a nation can only progress if it puts the well-being of all its citizens before the wants of a privileged few - a nation that shares its wealth equitably, giving fair opportunities to all, upholds justice and the rule of law.
The former Prime Minister says no society can prosper if half its people live in poverty, struggling everyday to put a decent meal on the table for its family.
He says or if its young people become so frustrated and discouraged, that they leave the country in droves to seek a better future elsewhere.
Chaudhry says we face many challenges in the year ahead at the root of which, he believes, is a lack of committed leadership, sensitive to the needs and suffering of our people.
He says we need leaders who exercise power with restraint, humility, compassion and the desire to serve.
Chaudhry says we need leaders who listen, not those who are so filled with self-importance that they fail to accept their own shortcomings or acknowledge that their policies are leading the nation astray.
He says Fiji has a wealth of experience and talent to draw from and is blessed with good natural resources, and to tap into these for the benefit and advancement of all, we need to inculcate a spirit of togetherness, with co-operation and inclusivity as our guiding principles.
Chaudhry adds let us hope that as we move into the year ahead, we can embrace the message of Christ to build a better future for our people wishing a Merry Christmas to all and Best wishes for the festive season.
