Dear Editor,
I am very worried about the cost of certain basic commodities in Region One. I know it is a free market but that has its own meaning. Last year around this time a gallon of rice was four hundred and fifty dollars anywhere in Mabaruma. One year after the price has gone to seven hundred dollars a gallon, this means the price has gone up by 55.5% per gallon. A bag of rice is seven thousand dollars, a pound of milk six hundred dollars, flour also is having a fairly high price, sugar is a bit more friendly for now.
Guyana’s total production of rice per year is approximately 629,000 metric tons . Her foreign markets account for 360,000 metric tons, and our local consumption is around 269,000 metric tons. We are not producing enough rice to supply our local and foreign markets. The foreign markets have a greater demand in terms of trade. We will have to produce more rice and sugar, so that our domestic markets will have a stable price so that the consumers can enjoy worth for their monies. The value of a dollar is what you can acquire with that dollar. If you get nothing then it is valued nothing.
At one time we used to boast of being the bread basket of the Caribbean. Now is the time to show off with our 83,000 square miles. I am writing on behalf of the people of Region One and the country. We would like the government to pay more attention to farmers. We do not want to get like Haiti. Some people are enjoying it fine while some are just limping along, while some have to do maths to make a day’s meal for a family of six. 70% of this population should be living on two thousand dollars per day per person, not five hundred per day.
Guyana has to supply more sugar to the EU because of the shortfall of other Caricom countries. We will have to take care of our local demands if not our money will be worth less in our own country.
I am asking the President and government of the country to put something in place for hinterland residents to reduce the cost of living.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Hope
Councillor, Region One
