Christmas has come and gone and all the excitement of Christmas is over. I must say I tried very hard to get into the spirit of the season but to be honest I don’t think I fully made it. Yes, the home was decorated; the Christmas tree is up, all the family came to dinner, but deep down there is a nagging uncomfortable feeling, ‘what is going to happen come 2010’.

You all would have noticed your food bills were doubled and I’m not just talking the extra that you would have normally spent at this time of the year. Your light bills were doubled and the taxes don’t go on yet, that starts January 1^st, 2010. The few presents you bought were doubled even though every thing you purchased was on sale. Basically this Christmas cost you double and you had less to spend.

Effective January 01, 2010, 2 days away, GCT increases to 17.5%, petrol goes up and electricity goes up. In other words from those things have increased every thing will automatically increase. Some persons are facing the possibility of loosing their jobs, or if not, there is no increase in salaries expected for some time to come. In fact the sense of hopelessness present today is very disheartening. People are going around near to numb. And the feeling is across the board, young and old.

 The brain drain from Jamaica has started again, as some of our bright young minds try to seek alternatives. Not that the grass is greener on the other side but at least in most countries if you do get work you have a better chance of making it. In Jamaica you might have work however the pay level (for most) is far below what the economy requires to survive. Most persons try to make up their earnings by doing some extra ‘something’ on the side, depending on their talent. But these days even that is becoming more difficult as there are more sellers than buyers.

Tomorrow is New Years Eve, I’m sure the churches will be full as a lot of persons will not be able to afford to go to any New Years Eve Ball or party. Mark you, I remember one of my best New Years Eve being a year when there was no money. My next door neighbor and I sat outside talking and decided to set up the drumpan and jerk the chickens which we were going to use for our family dinners. Once we got started another neighbor joined us. Next, one of the men had all the children collecting bottles to go trade in and get drinks. I have no idea where music came from but we partied all the way into the next morning. Even those you did go to formal parties came back and joined us.

Anyway, as I was saying, 2010 is not looking very promising at the moment. They say when life gives you lemons you must make lemonade. I’m not sure how we are going to do that in 2010 but for what it’s worth, let’s keep the faith and never give up. God is great. Happy New Year when it comes.

Nuff love