By Angelo Laurence, Freelance WriterMANDEVILLE:
WITH ONLY one week left before Christmas, both vendors and shoppers in Mandeville are out in force on the streets of the town.
Shopping centres have been turned into beautiful pieces of artwork with thousands of lights and other decorations telling the story of the season.
Religious services to celebrate the birth of Jesus abounds, with preacher after preacher praying for peace while calling on all Jamaicans to begin to love one another. One such service, held in the Manchester Shopping Centre recently, saw the coming together of the religious community led by the Bishop of Mandeville, the Right Rev. Dr. Harold Daniel.
The Custos of Manchester, Dr. Gilbert Allen, in his presentation said that it was time to refocus attention on the "principles of Christ," seek out the less fortunate and give them some cheer. According to Custos Allen the purpose of celebrating Christmas has been forgotten and is overshadowed by "merry-making and profits". The service is an annual event organised by the Mande-ville Rotary Club.
Some merchants are reluctant to say what kind of sales they are expecting for the season while others, particularly in the household and hardware sector appear to be smiling all the way to the bank.
When The Gleaner visited several shopping malls on Saturday, some stores could hardly handle the crowd as cashiers struggled to process shoppers. Appliance stores in the Caledonia Mall are experiencing good sales, according to the sales personnel.
However, the moans of economic hardship were also mixed in the expressions of those shoppers who spoke with The Gleaner.
"I don't really have it, but I can't see my little girl unhappy, so I do without and get her something for Christmas," said Monica Luen of St. Elizabeth. For Jimmy Matthews, it is a matter of making up his mind to pay the consequences later for his spending now.
"I mek up mi mind fi JPS fi cut off the power next month," he said. He explained that it was the money he had budgeted to pay the utility company he was spending to buy gifts for his two boys.
Despite earlier pronouncements by the Manchester Parish Council that no vending will be allowed on the streets of the town, by all indications the vendors have once again gained the upper hand, as every available space is occupied for vending.
Pedestrians and motorists must share the small roadways in the heart of the town as entrances to stores and sidewalks are barely visible through the tons of merchandise put on display by the vendors. This has compounded the traffic congestion already being experienced in the town, partly caused by taxi operators who have set up make-shift taxi stands at various locations on the main streets.
With bright, multi-coloured lights and decorations transforming the town into a festive atmosphere, everyone is predicting a bright and peaceful Christmas as has been the tradition for the people of the parish.
