The Holiday Season brings a reawakened spirit of joy into our lives and is an opportunity for self-renewal and to connect with family and friends, even if far away.  It signals the ending of the year that was and the joyful anticipation of the year 2016 to come.

At this time we must ponder what we have accomplished and what we have left undone and resolve to continue on our journey with greater focus, energy and enthusiasm.  We must also be truly thankful to God our Creator for all the blessings of our life and for friends, family and a wonderful Homeland called Jamaica, which is both a physical and a spiritual space in which we exist as members of the global community of Jamaicans.

Recently, our land Jamaica was described to me by a foreigner as a “diamond”; a special place of natural beauty, possessing a rich and diverse culture expressed in music, art and sport and  the attributes which make the Jamaican persona of friendliness, warmth and charisma recognized and valued throughout the world.

My fellow Jamaicans, please join me in celebrating the specialness of Jamaica and Jamaicans. Let us look forward to the opportunities to continue to advance our treasured democracy which is not enjoyed by many countries across the world. Let us celebrate our freedoms and value the many sacrifices made by our countrymen near and far to create a healthy economy providing a better way of life for all our people.

Importantly, at this time let us remember the poor and the needy, the disadvantaged, the infirm and the aged and reach out to those in our communities that we can touch during this Holiday Season, not only with material things but kind words.

May God Bless and keep you safe at this time and in the year to come and give you the blessings that you deserve. May God continue to bless our leaders and our homeland Jamaica, as we join hands to make Jamaica that special “diamond” of the World.

With Warm Regards

H.E.  Ambassador Ralph Samuel Thomas 

Ambassador of Jamaica

Washington D.C.

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