Christmas is the season of giving, and this year, more than ever, all members of the Bermuda community need to consider how they can give to make the community stronger and fairer.

This year, the Island has been spared the trauma and tragedy that marked 2003, when Hurricane Fabian's wrath was visited on the Island.

But deeper and more intractable problems continue to batter this small island daily, and solving them requires more effort from all of us.

Housing, drugs, problems in education, disaffected young people, crime and challenges for the elderly all remain, and the solutions remain elusive.

In the end, the problems facing the Island are all the more aggravating because they occur in the midst of plenty, and some indeed are the product of the very prosperity the Island enjoys.

To add to the problems, the Island remains divided. Racial issues tend to permeate debate on other problems, often with justice, but sometimes without good reason.

Honest and open debate is still needed, in spite of the strides that have been made. Certainly, the economic disparity between whites and blacks must be bridged, and fast but fair progress needs to be made.

This year, the Progressive Labour Party Government under the leadership of Premier Alex Scott began to address the problem under the Social Agenda. While some would argue that this response was late and others would argue with some reason that there has been more talk than action so far, the need for social improvement is undeniable.

At the same time, the Opposition United Bermuda Party has begun debate on economic empowerment, and this too is justified.

It would be a wonderful Christmas present for the community if both parties could debate these important policy thrusts without attempting to gain political advantage.

They are too important and there is too little time to get them right to waste effort and time on point-scoring and one-upmanship.

In many ways, this is the message that Christ, whose birth many Bermudians celebrate tomorrow, brought to all of us.

If we can "do unto others what you would have them do to you ..." and if we can have compassion for those who are less fortunate, Bermuda can solve its problems.

This year, Bermuda showed extraordinary generosity to the people of the Caribbean who were hit by a devastating series of hurricanes.

In the coming year, we need to bring the same generosity of spirit and effort to solving our problems here.

On behalf of all of the staff of The Royal Gazette, may you have a happy and safe Christmas.