Elgin Taylor, Gleaner WriterLLUIDAS VALE, St. Catherine:
THE TOWN of Linstead has been busily preparing for Christmas 2004. A number of businesses have opened up in the town in recent months. These include medical centres, pharmacies, clothing and food stores.
But while the merchants are upbeat about the prospects of the season, their counterpart in the market are predicting a bleak Christmas.
Joy, a clothes vendor in the market for nine years said she had definitely not yet seen Christmas, echoing a sentiment expressed by other vendors.
In general, the vendors believe that unemployment and Hurricane Ivan had a lot to do with the present state of affairs.
