Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

This is one of my favourite times of the year, as it is for many.

Some of my most potent memories are rooted in Christmases past. As a six-year-old boy, I remember creeping into the kitchen when my mother made her famous pudding, so I could sneak an extra piece.

And so much laughter over the years, when we gather with friends to play charades and other games.

Christmas is marked by these traditions that create deep bonds.

For many of us, it is a time when:

• Decorations emerge from hiding places to brighten our spaces each winter – some passed down through the family and evoke instant memories.

• Music fills our rooms with beauty, meaning and emotion.

• Generations of cooks gather together in the kitchen to share and prepare sacred family recipes.

People coming together, celebrating and connecting.

Our community celebrations like the St George’s walkabout, the Christmas Parade, the tree-lighting in Hamilton and the Gombeys on Boxing Day encourage us to come together, and give us the opportunity for connection beyond our family and friends.

A chance to share simple pleasures and moments that will live in our memories and provide us with joy and hope.

Spiritual leader Ruth Carter Stapleton once said: “Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.”

This has been so since the very first Christmas.

I want to pay special tribute to the scores of Bermudians who have created groups and organisations, charities and foundations, dedicated solely to helping others have a better life — to sharing the light of love.

That support comes not only in financial or practical ways but so often through the gift of time and attention. People bring their skills, their knowledge, their expertise, their energy and precious time to helping each other.

I thank you sincerely for the compassion you have shown throughout the year, and for strengthening our community through your faithful service.

It is a challenging world in which to be growing up and living. We all know costs are rising and opportunities can be scarce.

But together, I know we can work together to create opportunities for our young people. To support their education, their well-being, their safety, and ensure there are pathways into meaningful and rewarding lives.

We can work together to ensure that there are homes for all Bermudians, and communities can thrive.

For our seniors, who built our communities, I want to say thank you. And I want to say that I am focused on supporting you to have quality of life as you retire and age. We owe you that and we will work hard to ensure you have appropriate support and the care you so deserve.

I encourage everyone to spend some time connecting, not just with family and friends this season, but with those you may not know well, or at all.

If you know someone who may be struggling, and you cannot assist personally, please share the names of the organisations offering meals and support.

Sometimes the smallest gesture can make the biggest difference. A simple check-in may be exactly what someone needs at this time of year.

Christmas is not just another date on the calendar. It is a spirit that we can carry through the whole year. Not just in the celebrations, but in our actions.

That is bringing the light of love to others. And we can do it all the year through.

I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to the members of the Bermuda Police Service, the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service, Belco and the dedicated staff at the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

Your tireless work, often away from your own families, to keep Bermuda safe and healthy – 24/7, 365 days of the year – and your service is deeply appreciated. It makes our community strong. And we are deeply grateful.

On behalf of my One Bermuda Alliance colleagues, and my wife, Miriam, I offer my sincere good wishes for a joyful, peaceful, Christmas, and a blessed and hope-filled New Year.

May 2026 be a year of renewed opportunity, strengthened community, and brighter days for us all.

May the peace and joy that is the spirit of the season be with you and yours – all the year through.

Merry Christmas, and happy holidays!

Robert King is Leader of the Opposition