Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
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.”