Chairperson, colleagues, between now and when we reconvene in February, I know there will be very little rest for most of us as we go into our constituencies and focus on party work in preparation for the 2009 national and provincial elections.
The Christmas season, however, is an important time of celebration for Christians as it marks the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The ACDP wishes all members of Parliament, officials, staff of Parliament and the people of South Africa a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2009.
This year has been an unusually interesting year in politics as events have taken some abrupt twists and turns, resulting in an exhilarating shaking up of democracy. Suddenly people are daring to hope that there is more to democracy than this thing we have experienced for the most part of the past 15 years.
I am reminded of the words by James Bovard - and you need to visualise this mental picture: "Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner." [Laughter.]
Happy Christmas, travel safely and God bless you all.