Christmas tree lighting symbolises hope for St Bess

Many residents of St Elizabeth will spend the Christmas and New Year holidays in uncomfortable and uncertain conditions, still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, as damaged homes, disrupted livelihoods and lingering power outages continue to define daily life.

"Some persons are still picking up the pieces, some persons are still roofless, and some persons are still in conditions that are very uncomfortable," Black River Mayor Richard Solomon said. Hurricane Melissa left parts of Black River flooded, damaged homes and businesses, and stalled economic activity. For many residents, the festive season will be marked by tarpaulins in place of roofs, limited electricity and ongoing clean-up.

Against this backdrop, the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation faced a difficult choice: whether to proceed with the town's annual Christmas Tree Lighting amid visible rubble and hardship. Rather than cancelling the event, municipal leaders opted for a scaled-down observance, deliberately reframing it as a symbol of resilience rather than celebration.

"This year to me is most significant, even more than last year," the mayor said. "Last year we had a big Christmas tree lighting and a big crowd, and this year Melissa would have reduced us to what we are doing here tonight."

Solomon, who was speaking on Monday at the Municipal Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Black River, said the modest ceremony was intended to reassure residents that hope and unity remain intact despite ongoing discomfort.

"Christmas is a time when we share the joy and the spirit of love, a spirit of unity, and I want to make it clear that here in St Elizabeth the spirit of Christmas will not be lost. It will not die," he said. "What we are doing today is very symbolic. We are ensuring that Black River remains alive and well."

He added that the municipal corporation deliberately chose to remain present in the battered capital, leading recovery efforts from within. While acknowledging the hardship residents will endure through the holidays, the mayor pointed to early signs of recovery.

"What I can say is that after a month and a few days, Black River is starting to see a ray of hope," he said, noting the gradual return of commercial activity. Solomon also announced that electricity is expected to be restored to the capital before year-end.