It is tough to reconcile those mirthful images of beautiful women (they almost never publish pictures of men because the photographers themselves are men) in all-inclusive parties and on the very same newspaper page, dire predictions for the local business sector.

It is human nature and certainly for the Trinidadian, almost definitive of the national identity; when the times get hard, PARTY HARDER.

You may recall the wildly irresponsible ‘coup’ parties during the 1990 insurrection. The savannah was transformed into the autobahn as the witching hour of six o’clock approached, throwing its long, ominous shadows across Port-of-Spain.  After copious amounts of booze and ole talk are consumed at the ‘round the way bars, pubs and hawk and spits, everyone buckled in for what was clearly a dangerous drive home. First you had to be sure to avoid any overzealous officers with orders to shoot any errant morons on sight, then you had to survive the driver who is demanding all that the engine can give, and asking more than the aging suspension can bear as the car lurches around corners and the ice clinks in your glass of straight rum (hey, last call is always the hardest call).

Of course, the driver is performing a feat that, at the very least, requires a modicum of track training. He is not simply doing it without the benefit of stunt driver classes, but he is also tight like a high tension wire. All of this is being done in the name of partying to forget.

It is a primal vestige of self preservation, if I do not have to think about the impending doom then I am all the better for it. Quite understandable.

I am not saying this is true for everyone, but I suspect that the descent from those giddy highs of Carnival Monday and Tuesday will be a little turbulent. We are already aware of some of the companies that have announced job cuts, what is not common knowledge is how many others are in contemplative mode.

We have still to feel the worst of the global recession, but it cannot be denied that the barometer for trouble in the economy is advertising. In some countries it logically goes up to meet the challenge of waning consumer interest. Curiously, in this country, it comes down. It already has.

The obvious extrapolation from a decline in advertising is slowing consumer spending .

In the last 3 years, restaurants have popped up all over the country contradicting the well established fact that the restaurant business is one of the riskiest enterprises there is.

You will see the gradual disappearance of many of these new outfits. Who could have imagined that Bat and Ball and the Admiral Pub would shutter their operations?

It is important to note that businessmen will begin to lay off workers, not because business is bad now, but to create a leaner, meaner company to face the inevitable slowdown. Fewer workers on the payroll translates into instant profit, which if you’re a publicly traded company, is very enticing indeed.

The company you work for now may not appear to be in trouble, but in order for things to stay that way, you might be. Gayelle The Channel, in anticipation of the impending slowdown as far back as the beginning of last year, sent home 30 odd workers in preparation. Unfortunately it is unlikely that this will alter the company’s ultimate fate.

So, while you are jumpin’ up in de fete, I strongly recommend that you get every drink that you paid for and eat all the food you can. Wine until you waist sprockets seize, and skin your flick for as many media photogs. At least you will have those memories to cling to while you are rifling through the dumpster behind your last place of employment.