Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in East and West Ruimveldt, Georgetown about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Paulette Philadelphia
Paulette Philadelphia, a 62-year-old single parent said: “Everything is expensive in the marketplace and my monthly NIS stipend combined with my son’s salary still can’t do to support us. When we finished paying Internet bill and utility for the month, the rest of money can’t do to buy groceries for the both of us. Also, I’m a diabetic and sometimes if the public hospital don’t have the medications I need, I would have to buy the medications, which are really expensive now. Medications such as the eye drop, Metformin, Gliclazide, just to name a few I would have to buy. For instance, I’m buying a box of Gliclazide tablets for $399 now; before the price was $300. I receive $35,000 every month for NIS and this amount can’t do because even down to the greens and groceries expensive. I normally use Carnation milk because of my medical condition and a small tin cost $400 and something now; before the cost was $300 and something. Also, a nice parcel of bora couple months back was $200; now I’m getting a lesser parcel of bora for $200. Both beef and chicken gone up, too. A pound of chicken now cost $500; before I used to buy a pound of chicken for $300. Now a pound of special beef cost $700; before the cost was less. I think the government is trying their best by providing for both the schoolchildren and people but I think they should place price control on the items that both the supermarkets and vendors are selling. The government is giving the pensioners and schoolchildren money, yes but the business people who are selling the items to us, they are raising their prices when we received money from the government. The government should look into this.”
Leonie Yearwood
Leonie Yearwood, a 52-year-old cook said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot since I’m not working at the moment, only my son started to work now and items are still really expensive in the market. I’m currently sick and I’m seeing meat prices going up such as chicken and beef. Right now, two pounds of chicken can’t feed my extended family. A pound of chicken now cost $500; before the cost were $300/$400. Even beef all expensive, a pound of beef cost $800 now; before the cost was $700 a pound. Every day when I go to the market, something always rising. Greens all gone up, three boulanger now cost $500, now I have to spent $1,500 for boulanger to feed my family; a couple months back the cost was cheaper. Also, my daughter needs financial help because she’s not working at the moment. I think the government should work towards dropping the cost of food items down so consumers can afford to purchase food items.”
Pamela Frank
Pamela Frank, a 65-year-old pensioner said: “The cost of living is really affecting me a lot because everything gone up in the market. Somedays I don’t have anything to cook for my family. Family members are working but still the income can’t do to buy groceries and vegetable since the salary they receive is too small. Even my pension can’t do to buy things in the market. A pound of sugar now cost $200; a few months back a pound of sugar cost $160. A small Karibee brown rice now cost $2,700 and something; before the cost was $1,400/ $1,300. Drinks all gone up. To add to that there is utility expenses. I think the government is doing a good job by helping the people and school children. I would really like if the government can assist me with a cleaning job to assist with covering the expenses at home because things are really expensive in the market.”
Odessa Gomes
Odessa Gomes, a 32-year-old single parent said: “Food items are affecting me a lot because everyday something raising in the market. As a single parent of two children, when I’m buying food items, something is always high in the market every day and the salary is not rising. The cost for a 2-litre bottle oil is really expensive in the market now. The cost is $1,800/$1600; a few months ago the cost was $1,200. When I work at the Chinese supermarket, I receive $18,000 a week and that can’t take care of my two children. Rice all expensive. A tray of eggs now cost $1,800; before the cost was $1,600. Even greens all expensive. When a pound of cabbage cost $300 before, the price per pound of cabbage now cost $500/$600. Even the transportation cost for my children gone up. This month I saw my light bill jumped to $12,000 a month, my water bill all gone to $8,000 and then I had to pay the internet bill. All these cost have to come out of my small salary. The government is developing the roads and putting money to help parents buy things the schoolchildren need but instead of doing that, do more things to benefit the people because the cost of living is high. The $40,000 that we received for the children can’t buy all the items the children need because the cost for the items are expensive.”
Christopher John
Christopher John, a 52-year-old Carpenter said: “Everything rising in the market. Even the rent that I’m paying for a one bedroom apartment is expensive. My family that consist of six persons, including my four kids occupy the apartment. Right now I’m paying $45,000 for the apartment; a few months back the cost for the same apartment was $35,000. You can’t argue with the landlord because renovations were done to the apartment I’m renting. You have to pay the price regardless of your small salary. Then, from the four kids I have, three are going to school on a regular basis and I have to find money for them to go to school. In addition, every month I have to pay utility and internet bills. The cost for everything increase now. For instance, my monthly internet bill for the Blaze now is $12,000; before the cost was $7,000. Also, the cost for food items are expensive. Basic food items such as rice, sugar expensive. The cost for a pound of sugar now is $200; a couple months back the cost per pound of sugar was $100. Even the price of chicken gone up now, $500 a pound now; before the cost per pound of chicken was $300 and something. Even the price for baby’s infant milk gone up. Greens price all gone up in the market. I think the government should subsidize families by providing food stamps every month to every family so they can get support in purchasing food items.”
Shawn Alphonso
Shawn Alphonso, a 52-year-old bus driver said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot because I’m spending more and my salary is not raising. I had to raise the bus fare to accommodate my daily expenses when operating my bus. For instance, a pair of brake pads for my bus cost $5,000; before the cost was $5,500. Fuel to full the tank all gone up. Also, food items expensive to feed my family of six persons. A pound of chicken now cost $480; a couple months back a pound of chicken was $300. My family can’t eat chicken every day because the cost per pound is expensive; everything rising in the marketplace. The prices for items are not going down, two persons working in my home and still the money can’t do to buy groceries for the home. The government is trying but still the government should do more for the people because the cost of living is high. The government can provide a $50,000 voucher per household to help with purchasing food items.”
Carol Hackshaw
Carol Hackshaw, a 69-year-old pensioner said: “Everything gone up in the market and this is affecting me a lot financially, especially when I go to buy groceries from the market. Now, when I go to the market with $5,000 to buy groceries, the money runs out quickly. I saw that meat price gone up, a pound of beef is $800 now; before the cost was $500. Basic items such as a small pack Fernleaf milk gone up. The cost now is $1,200; before the cost was $600. My husband and I receive our monthly pension and my son works but still the money is not enough to buy groceries for the home. We still have to pay utility bills and internet bills. Then there is transportation cost. I have a daughter going to school too. She’s home right now but still the cost is high for us. I think the government should raise people’s salary and pensioner’s monthly stipend too. The cost of living is really high.”
Joanann Fraser
Joanann Fraser, a 65-year-old pensioner said: “The cost of living is indeed high but it’s not affecting me a lot because I’m living alone. My son who resides in the United States usually send money for me so I would try to save my monthly salary so when I need groceries/greens, I can buy. I think the cost of living would affect persons with three or four children. When I visited the market and supermarket in my community, I saw that the cost for basic food items have increased. When I used to pay $500 and something for a small pack Natura milk, I’m now paying $800 and something for the same pack of milk. Well, I got an ease on the utility bills since the government had reduced the bill. I have seen vegetables gone up because a piece of pumpkin that cost $240 a couple months back, now cost $250. Persons such as the single parents would suffer in coping with the high prices items are sold for in the market and as well as family with both spouses, including children, will feel it more. The government should look into why vendors/business people are raising the cost per items in the market and implement ways as to what they can do about it.”
Nicola Ricketts
Nicola Ricketts, a 46-year-old housewife said: “A lot of items gone up in the market, for example, sugar. A pound of sugar cost $200 now; before the cost was $120. Cost of living is really hard on people that have a family. Another basic item such as rice gone up in the market. A pint of rice now cost $120; before the cost was $80/ $100. People’s salary is low and when purchasing basic food items, the money can’t cover the cost for the food items needed to supply my family. I’m a family that consist of eight persons, including my husband. I tried to open a confectionery stand but that too is not helping. I’m glad if the government can assist me with a cleaning work. The government should try to drop the cost on basic food items sold in the market to help with the rising cost of living.”
Aletha Roberts
Aletha Roberts, a 40-year-old cook said: “I’m not working right now because I’m sick but every month I have to find lesson fees for my children and this is hard on me. Some days I can’t afford a meal because the cost for basic food items in the market have risen. It hurts me to know that i can’t provide my kids with things they need. Everything gone up in the market and the cost of living is really getting hard every day for people. Items, such as chicken gone up. A pound of chicken now cost $500/$480; before the cost was $320/$280 a pound of chicken. Eggs all gone up. A tray of eggs cost $1,500/1,300; before the cost was $1,200. The government should meet the people at their needs. The country is an oil producing country now and I don’t think basic food items should be so high.”
Althea Wilson
Althea Wilson, a 30-year-old hairdresser said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot because I’m spending more than I’m saving and everything gone up in the market. I’m a family of ten persons and only two persons work outside of the home. The salary I can tell you is low. I’m trying with my hairdressing job since not every day I would get a customer but still that too can’t do to feed my family. For instance, a pound of sugar is $200 now; before the cost was $140/$100. Oil all expensive, a l litre bottle of oil cost $800; before the cost was $460. Some people would have given up by now but my family and I are coping with the high prices food items are sold at in the market. Other items, such as bleach, nutmeg – gone up. I think the government should work towards dropping the cost of living and in that way, everything will get better.”
