We wish we could just roll into the traditional new year jargon with the optimists of this world.

But as a responsible newspaper, we must temper our wishes for everyone to have a happy and prosperous 2010 with a few sobering recollections.

Because while we have no wish to rain on anyone’s parade, the facts as we understand them indicate that 2010 isn’t going to be all that happy for some of us.

Take St James’ Salt Spring community, which according to yesterday’s edition of our sister title, the Observer West, was traumatised by rampaging gunmen at about 9:00 am on Wednesday.

The four children of the 32-year-old sales clerk who was gunned down in that attack aren’t likely to be happy and smiling today, tomorrow or anytime soon.

Neither are the 29 residents who were torched out of their homes in this brazen, despicable act of terrorism.

How do we say happy new year to them without the practical props of food, clothing and other accessories to help them move on with their lives?

How do we say happy new year to them knowing that the issues which prefaced this particular tragedy are yet to be resolved and that there is not much to point to right now by way of a solution?

If the words of the pastors in western Jamaica are anything to go by, better days are ahead for people like the residents of Salt Spring, as there are plans by their various ministries to provide more by way of financial and moral support. According to the lead story in yesterday’s edition of the Observer West, the clergy is cognisant that unless the needs of the people are met in a meaningful way, the entire effort is doomed to failure.

It would be good if the Government took a page out of their book this year, especially as it relates to the morality that must attend any credible attempt to execute authority.

For let us not be fooled, not all of our problems are attributable to financial constraints.

Many of the issues that are troubling us boil down to a clear-cut choice between what is right for the country and what is craved by the greedy few; between plain old-fashioned decency and outright dishonesty.

And from where we sit, we cannot say with conviction that the Government has been making the right choices.

Notwithstanding, rather than wallowing in milk that was spilt in 2009, we are prepared to take the high road in saying and trusting that it is certainly not too late for change.

The door for reconciliation, for taking the bull by the horns, is still open. It is for us to walk through it.