By Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer 
These three little girls from the Family Church on the Rock youth choir, Montego Bay, sang carols at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Sam Sharpe Square on Monday. They are from left, Kimberly Kelly, 4, Kelsey Keane, 3 and Ashley-Ray Kelly, 7. - Noel Thompson
WESTERN BUREAU;
THE ST. JAMES Parish Council spent approximately $400,000 this year to prepare the Christmas Tree at Sam Sharpe Square in downtown Montego Bay $300,000 less than it had cost last year.
The city's Mayor, Councillor Hugh Solomon, said last year the Council spent approximately $700,000 to design and build the new-look Christmas Tree, which was the brainchild of Mayor Solomon.
He was speaking in an interview following the Municipal Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Monday night.
Asked why was there such a significant reduction in the cost, Mayor Solomon said, "we had to build a base to accommodate the tree at the new location, which is in front of the Civic Centre instead of the fountain where it was placed last year. The base anchors the tree to the ground and this is a fairly expensive piece of work. The plan I have in mind is to make the cost less each year to prepare the tree. There shouldn't be much cost next year apart from getting some lights," Mayor Solomon stated.
Last year the St. James Parish Council took the initiative to build the Christmas tree from metal, instead of purchasing the traditional willow trees, which were fetching hefty dollars.
Asked what was the rationale for this new thrust, Mayor Solomon said: "It was difficult getting the type of tree we wanted. Besides I was environmentally conscious that each year it was another tree being hewn down. Therefore, I thought that if a tree is built we should have it for all times."
And there was a flicker of light at the ceremony when a group of children from the Family Church on the Rock delivered a string of Christmas carols in the form of a medley.
The children's choir literally had the large audience feeding from the palm of their hands and giving full participation, as they reeled off all-time Christmas favourites.
But what captured the audience's attention were three little girls Kelsey Keane, Kimberley and Ashley-Ray Kelly, ages three, four and seven, who were the youngest on the team. Despite their tender ages, they seemed quite cognisant of the fact that they had their audience hypnotised as they sang.
The Montego Bay Community College Choir also gave an astounding performance, as did the Chevannes family. But the event was dominated by the Family Church on the Rock 12-member 'Rock Praisers' choir, who rendered several songs in different segments. Pastor of that church Richard Keane gave a fiery address.
Montego Bay-based businesswoman Catherine Marzouca and Mayor Solomon's wife Kaleith, flicked the switch to officially light up the Christmas tree.
