Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in the areas of Leonora and Stewartville on the West Bank Demerara about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Seeta Mature said: “With the prices for food items going up every week in the market, persons who have a lot of children are finding it hard to buy food items in the market. I’m a family of three persons including my husband and grand daughter and I can tell you that even though I have a part-time job with the government, food items are still expensive. My husband works but still there is other expenses we have to pay. My daughter send money to buy my granddaughter’s snack which cost about $10,000 and then there is another cost attached to cover the lessons fees. It’s not easy on my daughter too since she’s paying $40,000 in rent when the month comes and until now she hasn’t received her turn-key home although, it has been a while since she had applied. I really would like the government to assist her in acquiring her home. I’m really trying to provide for my family despite the food items are sold expensive in the market. Right now, sugar is among one of the items in the market that is expensive. A pound of sugar is $400 now; a couple months back a pound of sugar cost $100. Also, the cost for a gallon rice is $1,200 now; before the cost was $1,000. The government should look into the cost of living and try to help the people in some way since the prices are still high in the market.”