Celebrities wish for debt forgiveness, covid19 cure

There’s little doubt that this is a Christmas like no other. The covid19 pandemic upended how people usually celebrate special occasions, putting physical, social and, at times, emotional distance between them.

Many hoped for many different things across the world: some hope that the covid19 vaccines will return some normality to the world; others hope just to be able to spend time with those they love most.

At Newsday, we spoke to some popular personalities in TT and the region who shared their Christmas wishes, sentiments, traditions and must-haves with us.

Masman Peter Minshall: “Have a good Christmas. Have good health, good strength and courage in the New Year.”

Road March winner Neil “Iwer” George: “I wish that the world finally finds a way to stop the fatality from this deadly disease.”

Each year Iwer visits his mum’s home in Port Fortin, and Christmas would not be Christmas without ponche de creme.

Television and radio presenter Errol Fabien: “I wish each of the commercial banks in TT could find it in their hearts to take $5 million off their profit and talk to their loans officers and collections officers who know people who lost their jobs and do debt forgiveness.”

Fabien must have his children with him for the holidays, and his Christmas tradition is taking his children shopping on Christmas Eve.

“We have not done it for some time, but I love it. We used to go to the flea market in Queen’s Park Savannah and I had a great time with them seeing them running around...trying to buy for the next one not to know what they are buying.”

Designer Peter Elias: “I love Christmas time! It reminds me of our immense blessings and all the good that surrounds us. The season allows me to appreciate all the wonderful people in my life daily.

"It’s been a very difficult year, but I remain positive about tomorrow.”

Queen of Soca Alison Hinds: “My wish is that everyone can make the holidays theirs, because traditional Christmas has gone under this year. We truly have to be thankful for the smallest of things.

"There are a lot of people who are unable to spend Christmas with their families for whatever reason either they are on lock down or somebody’s ill. You have to look at the small things, the fact that you’re alive.

"Make it yours, whatever situation you are in, make it yours and make it about people.”

She plans to spend the day with her family, and must have Barbadian mince pies for it to be Christmas.

Newsday wishes all of its readers a very Merry Christmas and may the hope that all you wish for yourselves and your families become a reality.