After travelling throughout the Corporate Area last week, then to the country for Christmas, I came to a realisation that saddened me. The number of homes that boasted signs of the festive season could easily be counted and are becoming even fewer each year.

A few years ago, driving around to view Christmas lights in different areas and the decoration of homes was a great way of 'catching or feeling' the Christmas spirit. Now, one would be lucky to encounter such a luxury four times within a mile. One of the main reasons for this boycotting of Christmas lights is the fear of how 'dazzling' the electricity bill will look at the end of the month. While some allow this fear to steal the joy of the season, a few bold and resolute souls venture on to embellish Christmas, while consoling themselves with the fact that there will be a noticeable increase in their bill nonetheless.

Quality of living

As our economy plunges deeper into crisis, many persons find that they are unable live the quality of life that they could have a few years ago. A few, like me, watch as certain afforded privileges are gradually swiped from our palms. We scale back to stretch our tight budgets across a wide area of essentials for a comfortable lifestyle - all the time bearing in mind that the bills must be paid. The reality of the situation is that we are the victims of poor economic planning and management and exploitative systems that thrive on hitting a people when they are down. Our reality is that Christmas can no longer fit into our budgets. So that one time of the year that just about everyone looks forward to is being stolen from our homes and our hearts.

Then just when I thought I might be overreacting here appears an article in the Tuesday morning's Gleaner, section A3 (December 29), bearing the title 'Cost cuts dampen downtown fireworks.' Need I say more?

So for those of us who can still afford to brighten Christmas with glamorous decor, as well as entertain guests and prepare elaborate feasts, we should consider ourselves blessed and be thankful. But for the rest of us- we can only hope that the grinch who continues to steal a bit of Christmas in Jamaica each year, will soon be haunted by the three ghosts of the season.

I am, etc.,

CORDEL SLOWLEY

cordelslolwey1@yahoo.com