As we enter the holiday season this year, the old saying that Christmas is for children takes on a sombre vibe. On the global scene there are numerous conflicts - outright war is a fact of life for Ukrainians, Russians, Israelis, Lebanese, Iranians, Iraqis, Pakistanis and many more who live to the east of the Atlantic seaboard.
The Caribbean is not spared. Our neighbours in South America, the Venezuelans have not been able to improve their day-to-day, adding to a pipeline of migrants from many other Latin American nations. The bulk of those stories - and almost all will reflect pain, may never be told. Here in Trinidad and Tobago, we face the pervasive gloom with our own concerns. The economy is under-performing, expected to tank over the period 2024-2026 according to the Prime Minister.
Still, the average citizen will persevere, taking to this years holiday season with the optimism of the Christ child. The current population you see, has never never truly been broke. They, we, indeed, are the real children this Christmas.