Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

WHILE MANY Jamaicans will be busy attending church services or eating turkey, ham and cake with family, some groups of persons will be forced to endure Christmas away from loved ones.

Many doctors, firemen, police, nurses, soldiers and public sector workers who form a national guard referred to as the essential services, have been called upon to give up family for a greater cause. As one policeman puts it, "Sometimes we have to give up the things we love and the persons we like being around for the benefit of the entire country."

Detective Constable Hunt of the August Town police station is one of many policemen who will be working on Christmas Day. A father of two, he says: "It is not a wonderful feeling to be away from family at this joyous time, but the job dictates otherwise.

"It is out of loyalty and dedication to policing and in the interests of providing security for the nation that police turn out to work on these days, but we would rather be with family on Christmas Day," he said.

And it is not just the police who would rather be home at Christmas. Ashley Baker, a fireman for more than 35 years, says he would want to imbibe with family and friends but he knows too well that Christmas decorations and celebrations bring with them several fire hazards.

"It is very difficult to know you are not with family on this special day, but the demands of the job require us to help save lives and property," says Baker, who has worked so many Christmas Days that it has become normal to him. "The first Christmas I worked would have been the first Christmas with my first child but it never happened. I had to work, even though I wanted to be home," he tells The Sunday Gleaner.

Things happen

Firemen say the festive season always has them in the block. "There are fireworks and these often cause fires ... A lot of things normally happen at this time of the year, so it is important for us to be on the job to help save lives and minimise damage in this 'silly' season," said one young fireman.

And while the security forces and firemen will be out keeping order, many health workers in hospitals cannot afford to get caught in a celebratory fever. With holidays seemingly blighted by accidents, babies deciding they are ready to face the world,and diseases, like malaria, forcing persons to seek medical attention, many doctors, nurses and porters will spend their Christmas delivering care.