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OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles says Christmas is a time for people to renew their hope in all that is good and to work steadfastly to keep hope alive, regardless of the obstacles which threaten to extinguish that hope.

In her Christmas message to the nation, Beckles said, "We are living through a period of profound uncertainty. Many families are grappling with the pain of job losses and ongoing economic instability. Our economy is at a near standstill, with business owners expressing serious concern about their Christmas earnings."

After the April 28 general election, thousands of Cepep, URP and Forestry Division workers lost their jobs when these programmes were terminated.