A Brim or Grim Christmas

Dec 24, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Our Guyanese counterparts in the Diaspora are dealing with the snow and the cold overseas while we in Guyana are experiencing the rain and the wetness. It is December month, the season of Christmas, the occasion to express peace, joy and happiness, and a countdown time to ring out the old year and usher in a brand-new year.

On one side of the coin, people align the times with the spectrum of holiness to commemorate the birth of Christ. Also, on the flip side of the coin, people have criminalised the times with negative activities while the business entities have commercialised the times with attractive bargains, sales and gimmicks.

Many choose to return home, the place of their birthright, for the holidays. Whether here or there, Guyanese want to celebrate a homely Christmas, to experience that family comradery and the feeling of warm togetherness.  This time of the year gives us a reason to again exchange gifts, buy new clothes, revamp the home, cook mouth-watering delicacies, avail quench-thirst drinks, invite friends and families, attend parties and organise social gatherings.

On the other hand, it is the season to serve humanity. Many become charitable, provide for the less fortunate and become helpful in contributing to the needs of society. While many Christians attend their churches regularly, there are a few who would ensure that their annual attendance synchronises with midnight-mass. Carols and Christmas songs do rekindle fond memories.

This month of joyous adventure to prepare for the 25^th, brings a moment to redeem oneself, seek to be remorse, to forgive and pardon, to forget old grievances, to make friends, to reach out and make amends, to cooperate and compromise and to go over and above the norm in keeping with the essence of tradition.

Not to undermine the bliss and delight, it is a period not to forget those not in perfect health and to remember those loved ones no longer present. Sorrow is part of life and cannot be overruled with dismay or despair. Pain and pleasure are synonymous with Christmas preparations and programs.

While nothing may be impossible for the rich, the middle class and the upcomers to serenade the holidays with the potency of jubilation and exuberance, everything may be possible for those at the lower end who are scratching their heads to keep them above the water to adopt and adapt, only if, they watch every cent spent with sense.

The jingling bells may compromise the sound of music to the ears of strugglers, stragglers and sufferers who are not strangers to the stratosphere of segregation! Many are surviving through the grace of generosity and this group cannot afford to be “pound foolish” but rather, “penny wise,” with their spending power. Many are forced to be disciplined and save their dollar with discretion, not out of choice but out of alternative!

Some at the top of the ladder take it for granted that all’s well with those at the bottom rings of the ladder. Some could not be bothered with the fragility of vulnerability. Again, some at the upper end do realise that those at the lower end do need more care and attention and that all the amenities of grants, handouts, allowances, entitlements and other social benefits are inadequate to meet the cost of living which presents a real challenge in these trying times.

Over sixty thousand Guyanese are grateful that they have lived to surpass the age of sixty. Some have gravitated with compatible comfort and some are groaning with composed compromise! Many are enjoying the wealth of good health and many are not so lucky to endorse this enthused euphemism.

Guyana is a thriving, developing country, a motivated nation striving to propel a better way of life and to upgrade its standard of living. It has a careful government in management, unlike its careless predecessor. While the capitalist economists may not see eye to eye with the practical politicians, the socialist economists may have to endure the exigency of prioritising a need above a want.

Christmas is a critical time to make crucial decisions when dealing with cruel circumstances. The criteria for some is to control with conservatism and for others, they can careen off while being carefree. Guyana is the fastest growing economy in this part of the hemisphere. It is also unshaded from pockets of poverty. Some spend tens of thousands of dollars unreservedly in the market at the end of the week, while some have to spend a thousand dollars collectively and holistically.

Politicians need to pay more attention to the man in the street who have to sacrifice a lot and tighten their belts. 2026 budget should not fatten those who are already bulging at the waist line, but accelerate not sympathetically but systematically, those who are potential candidates with questionable life span.

Our fallen ancestors to whom we are tremendously obligated to for their hard work and dedication to lay the foundation for the country and people to now experience, were unable to enjoy the real richness of this soil and to reap the benefits of their blood, sweat and tears. Guyana now has the golden opportunity to make amends and properly provide for the silver hair generation with comprehensive compensation if not repairs for reparation.

This oil rich nation must emphasise with empathy its emancipation with accelerated social infrastructure, aggressively and appropriately, before it’s too late. Happy Christmas Guyana.

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall

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• Brim, Christmas, Diaspora, grim, Jai Lall., Letters

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