Audley Wynther, 54, welder

The high point came out of what the Jamaican athletes achieved for the country at the Olympics last year. Apart from that, 2008 was one of the worst years I've seen, the whole issue of high food prices and the recession.

Take Christmas, for instance, there were almost no pepper lights.

Ramar West, 20, student:

People were complaining about the economic crisis more than ever and there never seemed to be any Christmas spirit either. What I like that took place last year was the new methods of combating crime that the prime minister is putting in place. And respect to all the Jamaican Olympians!

Peta-gaye Galloway, 25, store clerk

Not a lot of violence went on in my community last year, it is the most peaceful it has been in years. It would have been good if the whole Jamaica was like that. What I did not like was the kidnapping incidents that plagued the latter part of the year.

Anthony Samuels, 21, tailor:

What I loved about last year was that I lived through it still, I still have health and strength, thanks be to God! Crime and violence was the downfall of the year as usual but during the Olympics in Beijing, all the troubles of the world seemed to have left the minds of Jamaicans.