Latest update March 21st, 2025 7:03 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

The uncertainties of Christmas 2008

Nov 21, 2008 Editorial

The Christmas season is fast approaching. Some will say that it is already upon us. As Guyanese prepare for the festive season, there are a number of uncertainties.
For one, the crime situation is still tenuous. There still continues to be robberies involving the use of weapons and cases where some persons are behaving as if they are laws unto themselves.
Just Thursday, we reported on an incident at Grove, East Bank Demerara, where a group of men spread fear and terror in a drinking parlour. We hope that the police will arrest these perpetrators, and that they will feel the full force of the law.
We can only imagine, if these men are allowed to get away with what took place at Grove, what next they will attempt.
The police have indicated that there will be a heightened presence of their ranks on our roadways. This should deter many a criminally-minded. However, there will be a few rotten eggs who will attempt to breach the law and breach the peace.
Firm, condign, but not excessive action, must be taken against these persons when they are caught, so that a signal can be sent throughout society that the police intend to keep on top of the crime situation.
Guyanese must not leave everything up to the police. They should exercise caution at this time, and avoid having a great deal of cash on their person or at homes.
While there is a great deal that citizens can do to help reduce crime, there is little control they can exercise over the second uncertainty as we approach the holiday season.
The rainy season will soon be upon us, and only the Gods can predict how intense the showers will be this year.
While we cannot prevent the rain, there is a great deal which we can do to avoid the negative effects of flooding.  Just this week, there were heavy showers; and in the city, many areas were under water — a clear indication of the state of unpreparedness for the rainy season.
It would be unfortunate if, in these difficult times, citizens should have to suffer further losses because of neglect and poor maintenance of drainage systems in the country.
The worldwide global crisis has also created a third uncertainty. The holiday season is a period of peak arrivals, as many Guyanese come home for Christmas.
It is not clear as yet just how the financial crisis has impacted on the fortunes of Guyanese, and how this will impact on them returning home for the holidays; and, more importantly, on remittances, on which so many Guyanese depend.
There have been predictions that the financial crisis would reduce these remittances, which form such an important component of the Christmas basket.
So far, there has not been any reported decrease in remittances; but as the foreign economies slip further into the red, there will inevitably be repercussions for countries such as ours.
Many businesses would, of course, be hoping that the disposable incomes of Guyanese and tourists are not eroded, for a bad Christmas season is the surest route to bankruptcy and foreclosure.
Most businesses depend on the heavy spending by consumers to ensure that they are profitable.
The final uncertainty remains the electricity supply. There has been some improvement in recent days, but the fact that additional generating sets have had to be imported to ensure there is adequate generation capacity leaves one to wonder.
Just how well the GPL would be able to meet consumer demand is still uncertain.
Guyanese are ingenious people. They will still have a good time, regardless of the number of tourists that arrive, the weather, or the level of remittances.
But nothing can spoil Christmas as blackouts can.  We hope that, this year, we will once again escape the threat of a dark Christmas.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

NSC, Office of the DPP to host Criminal Law and Sexual Offences Act meeting tomorrow

NSC, Office of the DPP to host Criminal Law and Sexual Offences Act...

Mar 21, 2025

Kaieteur Sports– In a proactive move to foster a safer and more responsible sporting environment, the National Sports Commission (NSC), in collaboration with the Office of the Director of...
Read More
Lucas Chung maintains strong standing at 2nd Qualifier

Lucas Chung maintains strong standing at 2nd...

Mar 21, 2025

Farm Supplies Ltd. supports Bartica Regatta 2025

Farm Supplies Ltd. supports Bartica Regatta 2025

Mar 21, 2025

Legislation and Investment: Trinidad to Brazil, Guyana finds new lifeline

Legislation and Investment: Trinidad to Brazil,...

Mar 21, 2025

Three more matches billed for this weekend

Three more matches billed for this weekend

Mar 21, 2025

CM Khan rules at 2025 National Blitz Chess Championships

CM Khan rules at 2025 National Blitz Chess...

Mar 21, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]