The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

SEA Breeze MP Hope Strachan said she is disheartened by the apparent theft of a Christmas tree from one of several parks in her constituency over the weekend.

“This had to be the work of some Scrooge who doesn’t know the idea behind Christmas,” Mrs Strachan told The Tribune yesterday.

She insisted that the tree, which is set up annually in the Edward Charles Carter Park, represents the “sense of community” shared within the constituency. “This is troubling on the surface,” she added.

Mrs Strachan, who was not on New Providence at the time of the tree’s disappearance, said she could not comprehend the reasoning behind the theft when she heard the news.

“We have made the presence of these trees a thing within the constituency,” she said. “This particular tree isn’t the only one; in fact, on Saturday, we held a tree lighting ceremony for our Tiger Close Park tree.

“So to hear the news that this tree had been stolen, honestly I still don’t understand. But, with that said, I wish the person well that is responsible for this. I hope they are happy with the tree.”

When asked if there are plans to replace the tree before Christmas Day the Financial Services Minister said that neither she nor her team had considered doing so at this point, suggesting that plans had to be considered to prevent theft before another tree is placed at the location.

Pastor Ivan Carey delivered the Christmas message at the recent tree raising ceremony at the Edward Charles Carter Park – at the intersection of Sea Breeze Lane and Beatrice Avenue – with his choir. Pastor Victor Johnson and his choir and Pastor Jay Simms also attended and Mrs Strachan publicly thanked them for participating in the true meaning of Christmas.