Consumer Concerns
Georgetown Average Commodity Prices for Period 2001-May 2009
Note: Currently the prices for loose milk and sweet potato are not available.
A housewife, living on the West Bank Demerara with three children and no assistance asserts that her monthly expenditure, for herself and her children amounts to twenty-eight thousand one hundred and eighty-five dollars, as shown
below.
Ten pound pack of chicken – $3,000
½ bag brown rice – $4,000
1 tin milk – $2,500
12 lbs sugar – $1, 200
1 kilo Flour – $285
1 bottle oil – $360
1bunch plantain – $500
3 lbs cassava – $200
4 lbs eddoes – $200
4 lbs sweet potatoes – $200
1 tub margarine – $300
Transportation – $16,000
The table showing the rising cost of living should be displayed on a wall in our kitchen. We would then realize that we have to make an effort to cope with increasing prices. Those of us who have land space available for small plants should make the beds ready and then visit Mr McGarrel at the western end of Merriman’s Mall and purchase seedlings for planting.
We could also develop some skill that would bring in extra cash.
With the opening of the new school year there is the burden of providing uniforms, shoes, bags, and books. For students who are members of credit unions, loans can be obtained to cover this additional cost, but the loans have to be repaid within the year. This means a monthly repayment which results in a reduction of the monthly income.
Stabroek Business in its issue of August 7, carried an article ‘Parents under pressure’: “As the start of the new school year approaches, many parents are finding it tough to meet the cost of their children’s education.”
The expenditure on shoes is noted. Not only are the prices high but the soles of the shoes have to be nailed or stitched at an additional cost. Growing children need new shoes during the year.
As the Stabroek Business reported, it is tough on parents. Some assistance is needed for them to carry on without monetary problems. School feeding programmes have begun, but perhaps could be extended to all needy parents.
The poverty reduction strategy has reached its final stages and we should learn in due course how much poverty has been reduced. Some more thought should be given to senior citizens, especially those who have not received a penny more since VAT started in 2007.
There has been talk about Grow more food. This is a programme that should be hammered into the heads of all Guyanese. We have the land.
There is one other problem that needs to be addressed. We have become a nation of dishonest people. The Guyana Power and Light tells us that if all users of electricity paid in full for their consumption, the cost of electricity would be reduced considerably. Let us all make a big effort to be honest in all our dealings.
