Serve, protect and Christmas lights

Dear Editor,

It's almost mid-December and the holiday season is on in earnest. However, given the austere economic times the nation now faces — some more than others — many are foregoing stringing up "pepper lights" and putting up Christmas trees. In light of rising electricity costs, the buzzword is being 'penny wise, not pound foolish'.

Imagine, then, my shock on a recent trip down Hope Road to see the Police Officers' Club fully decorated for optimal visual impact with what appeared to be thousands of lights.

Last time I checked, the government was indebted to the International Monetary Fund, public sector workers' wages are frozen, and Jamaica, land we love is not, in average estimation, in the healthiest of conditions.

So what explains the presence of this impressive light display when even commercial operators have opted to tone down or entirely do away with light displays given the prohibitive electricity costs?

Could the commissioner or police union kindly rationalise this electricity expenditure given that taxpayers pay for the operation of, and the salaries of police officers who frequent the club?

Clarence Dennis

St Andrew

Serve, protect and Christmas lights

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