Leaders Urge Unity and Faith as Antigua and Barbuda Marks New Year at National Thanksgiving Service

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Calls for unity, resilience and faith framed the start of Antigua and Barbuda’s new year on Sunday as national leaders gathered at the annual National Service of Thanksgiving, using the pulpit to reflect on global uncertainty, domestic challenges and the shared responsibility of nation-building.

Addressing the congregation, Sir Clare Roberts, speaking on behalf of Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, urged Antiguans and Barbudans to pause and acknowledge survival through what he described as unsettled times globally and at home.

He pointed to conflict abroad, economic strain and environmental pressures, while noting that the country had endured through faith, service and community spirit.

“Our survival is not accidental,” Roberts said, crediting prayer, resilience and the often unseen work of families, churches, public servants and first responders.

He encouraged renewed attention to environmental care, calling on citizens to “love where we live” by keeping communities clean and orderly, and stressed the importance of education and lifelong learning, particularly through the University of the West Indies.

As the country enters 2026, he appealed for compassion toward the elderly, the vulnerable and those facing mental illness or homelessness.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne used his remarks to frame the service as both a moment of gratitude and a test of national resolve.

He noted that the government has held a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving consecutively for 11 years, describing it as a reflection of his administration’s commitment to faith and public service.

Browne said 2025 had been a “year of bounty,” citing progress in healthcare, education and national development, while acknowledging that the country now faces fresh challenges.

“No successful nation has been built on calm waters,” he told worshippers, urging citizens to meet difficulties with purpose rather than division.

He called on Antiguans and Barbudans to stand “shoulder to shoulder” in pursuit of the long-stated goal of transforming the country into an economic powerhouse.

The prime minister also highlighted social measures aimed at protecting the most vulnerable, including the expansion of food assistance and the rollout of a programme providing free building materials to poor and indigent households.

He said his government would continue to govern “with integrity” and appealed to people of faith to keep the country’s leadership in prayer.

From the opposition benches, Sherfield Bowen, the deputy leader of the United Progressive Party, struck a reflective tone as he brought greetings at the close of the service.

Bowen spoke of a region facing renewed anxiety as military conflict edges closer to the Caribbean, traditionally viewed as a zone of peace.

He said the developments underscored the need for prayer, wisdom and reliance on God, both for neighbouring countries and for Antigua and Barbuda’s own challenges.

Bowen also referenced domestic pressures, including concerns about finances, healthcare and the strength of national institutions, and said the country must continue seeking divine guidance as it navigates the year ahead.

Throughout the service, speakers repeatedly returned to themes of gratitude, endurance and collective responsibility, setting a tone for 2026 that blended faith with civic duty, and urging unity across political and social lines as Antigua and Barbuda confronts an uncertain global landscape

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