Dear Editor,
Christmas in Guyana has always had its own rhythm, with early cleaning, pepperpot bubbling before sunrise and every street corner glowing with lights. But this year, as the oil economy grows, many people are quietly asking a fair question: How come the country is getting richer, but the Christmas hustle still feels the same or even harder?
Yes, we see new jobs and more activity in town, but the truth is that the basics are still hitting people hard. Groceries cost more. Transportation costs more. Even putting up a simple string of lights feels like a decision you have to budget out. For a country producing this much oil, that shouldn’t be the story.
Right now, many households are watching the sector soar while their own pockets barely move. It’s like watching a Christmas tree light up beautifully… but your house is in darkness.
I cannot wait for the Gas to Energy project to finally come on stream because that is one development that can make a real difference in people’s lives, especially around Christmas time. The project is expected to reduce power costs by roughly 50 percent, and that kind of savings is not just a statistic. That is a family being able to run their lights a little longer, bake a little more, or set aside a little extra for treats and small gifts without feeling the pinch. In a very real way, it could literally make our Christmas brighter.
As we move deeper into this new economic era, the real measure of progress will not just be production numbers. It will be how much easier life becomes for the ordinary Guyanese.
Guyana is changing fast. But the question remains, will our Christmases change with it?
Sincerely,
Leah October
