Bruk Pocket Christmas Fi Real…

This year, as you surely noticed, has been the worst economically in modern history.  Thank goodness it is almost over and none too soon.  But that may be the only good news that Belizeans may have in quite a while.  The country’s economy under Prime Minister Honorable Dean Barrow’s stewardship is still in the throes of a recession, and it is expected that the New Year will be fraught with greater economic hardships.  So, it came as no surprise that the Statistical Institute of Belize’s 2009 third quarter economic indicators revealed that the economy continues to contract.

And of course, this Christmas season only serves to bring into sharp focus the reality of life in Belize today.  Despite Prime Minister Barrow’s proclamations to the contrary, the majority of Belizeans have been hit hard by the economy this year.  For many what they are earning just now is not enough to meet the escalating cost of living, no matter how much they try to pinch and save.  And to make matters worse, the prices of everyday items in the supermarkets and goods in the stores seem to rise without warning, while salaries are often being cut or frozen by employers.

At the same time, there are many Belizeans who are out of work and are struggling to hold on to their homes because they are falling behind on their mortgage payments.  Sadly, foreclosures of their homes may not be far away.  The reality is that many even with the best of educations cannot find a job and are faced with figuring out how they are going to make ends meet until they can find one.  No wonder that there are those who are scrambling to find money for their next meal and are wondering how they will manage to keep the utilities on another month.

But the state of the economy means that it will cost Belizeans more of their hard earned money to purchase the necessities this Christmas.  But higher prices mean less food, particularly the apples and grapes, on the table and less gifts, if any, under the tree.  Our children will surely not have fond memories of this year’s Christmas.  Many may also find that they are going to have alternatives to what is considered to be the traditional Christmas dinner.  All the ingredients, but particularly the turkey and ham, may be out of the reach of lots of families.  And there are those that may leave the turkey out opting for something less expensive like chicken.  Thanks a lot, Prime Minister Barrow.

It is also clear that Belizeans are making sure that every cent counts today.  We are a people who have grown accustomed to decorating our homes with countless lights and other electrical yuletide decorations, not to mention renovating our homes to bring in the New Year.  But that is simply not the case this year.  In an attempt to reduce utility costs during the holiday many are putting up fewer lights and the decorations are all but a distant memory.  The utility bills are often forgotten because they do not arrive until after Christmas, but not this year.  And the materials such as the paint and linoleum for renovations also cost extra money.  These are the additional expenses that many are trying to cut.  As a sign of the times, even the stores are not as decorated as they once were.

With Belizeans being robbed of their purchasing power, merchants are bracing for dismal sales this Christmas.  These two weeks before Christmas Day are usually one of the busiest shopping periods of the year but from the looks of things, particularly on Albert Street, merchants will not reap the same level of sales they did in years past.  The merchants are not seeing the pedestrian traffic they would normally see in their stores at this time, and those who are in the stores are being cautious with their money and as a result more selective in what they are purchasing.  Alas, the merchants can only hope that last minute shopping, particularly if workers miraculously receive bonuses this year, will make up for the crawling start in Christmas shopping.

Prime Minister Barrow’s bungling of the economy seems to have choked the joy out of Christmas this year.  And if the country’s economy does not turn around soon, Christmas as we once knew it will be a thing of the past.  Gifts which were once the focal point of this holiday will take a back seat as Belizeans look for other less expensive and more meaningful ways to celebrate the holiday.  But perhaps there is a silver lining in our economic hardships.  There may be a return to the old traditions and activities that made the Christmases of our youth fun and exciting.  Family activities may once again take center stage, as we focus on spending time with loved ones and in helping those who are less fortunate than us.  Nonetheless, Belizeans are holding tight to what little they have and are less likely to spend money they need just to survive.

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