Thank you, Chairperson. You will excuse me for having changed the speakers' list. I have an appointment that I have to honour and it's an hour late now. You are aware that I have visitors from Swaziland. That is why I requested the Chief Whip to please letr me make my remarks first and then be allowed to leave.
Let me leave with you these important words from one intelligent writer who once said:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you ... We were born to make manifest the glory of God that iswithin us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
At the closure of this House today, at the end of the last debate of the year, I want to say: Thank you very much. We have been a team. I'm very happy. I have again seen the fruits of what we have achieved in the year 2007.
I go home very encouraged and more motivated than last year because of the teamwork that I've seen in this House. We have had our differences but we have forged ahead in our fight to do our job as a team in this institution.
I want to thank the Chief Whip for the co-operation and work that he's been doing with the Presiding Officers. I want to thank the House Chairpersons for the wonderful work they have done. I want to thank all chairpersons of committees for the wonderful and sterling job that they have done. It's not an easy thing. You have been steering the ship in your committees throughout the year with all the perseverance and strength that you had.
To my deputy, I want to thank you for also offering your help in the institution so that we work together in the name of the NCOP and achieve the work that we have so far.
I want to thank the Secretary to the NCOP and all the staff members for assisting and supporting us to carry on our work and, of course, to achieve our political objectives as Members of Parliament.
May I also thank the Secretary to Parliament, along with all the staff of Parliament, for the support they've given us to do our work for the entire year?
Enjoy your festive season with your families and may you all have a prosperous new year. Till we meet again next year, may God be with you and bless you. Thank you. [Applause.]