Daphne Bartlett, president of the San Fernando Business Association:
“My personal wish is that I would continue to be thankful and grateful for what God has given to me and my family thus far. My wish for the country for 2015 is for our leaders to be inspired to curb wastage and manage our resources carefully, especially in light of the drastic drop in oil prices. We also want our people to be more prayerful and thankful. I wish for us to be our brother’s keeper. I also wish that we would look for less handouts and try to do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.
I pray for peace and harmony in our country, especially since it will be an election year and everybody will be jostling for a leadership role. I wish also that there will be no natural disasters.”
Errol Mc Leod, Labour Minister and MP for Pointe-a-Pierre:
“I wish there will be peace on the industrial front and T&T will be able to effectively deal with the crime situation that is affecting everybody and it is a matter that we must all come together to solve, if we can solve it at all. The new year is going to hold a lot of positive promises for this country. I think we have done well over the last 12 months and we will see a lot of successes in many areas. Yesterday (Thursday), negotiations on behalf of teachers were concluded and signed off.
Public servants are going to settle in a short while from now, and there are positive indications notwithstanding the economic and financial problems that seem to be hovering with the falling price of oil and gas. These are two important commodities on which our economy depends. My personal Christmas wish is that every family in T&T and every individual in T&T remembers the Christ child and how he suffered and died for our sins.
Basdeo Panday, former prime minister of T&T:
“My wishes are that constitutional reform will come to this country and all the political shenanigans that are taking place across the country will finally come to an end. Constitutional reform will make this country a better place for all of us to live in. As for my wish for the new year, I wish this entire country will be happy not only for Christmas but for all eternity.”
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, former attorney general:
“My personal Christmas wish is for T&T to be saved from the political precipice which it finds itself in. Unless a new group of people comes forward to save this country and present to the people a powerful political alternative, T&T may not be able to be rescued from this Partnership government. My wish for the new year is for this group to help to formulate and mobilise a national front to rescue T&T. So certainly, my wish is for this People’s Partnership administration to no longer be in office.”
Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan, minister of religion (Presbyterian):
“My Christmas wishes are that people will strive for spiritual growth and strive to serve humanity in a positive way. I wish for the transformation of the minds and hearts of people so that they will live worthy lives. I also wish for fervent leaders who will give of themselves selflessly without seeking self-aggrandisement. I want us to take better care of our children. In the new year, I hope that people will see challenges as opportunities for growth and approach life in a more positive way.”