Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Stabroek News spoke to residents of Swan and Moblissa on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway about the cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Earl Hudson: `Groceries in general are costly and despite residents in Swan don’t pay for electricity and water, I’m feeling it on food items mostly. The canter that comes around in Swan to sell greens to residents is selling their greens at a high price. Even the shop people selling items expensive in the shop. I’m a family of five persons and I can tell you that my son works as an electrician and his salary is low. This is difficult on my family because grocery items just going up and the salary low. I understand the cost of living is affecting the people around the world, however, I don’t think basic food items such as greens, rice and sugar supposed to be that expensive. I think the government should work something out with the farmers to see how the cost for basic food items can be reduced.’
Eshwaram Beharry
Eshwaram Beharry, a 53-year-old businessman: `The cost of living is not affecting me much because I’m trying by selling clothes, food items and so on, in order to feed my family. I was a cane cutter for 28 years at Wales and then I came here in Swan where I started a business. What I can say is that the cost for basic food items such as sugar and rice are high. For example, right now a 100 pounds of sugar cost about $13,500 wholesale in Soesdyke; before it was cheaper. Then there is oil and chicken. A 1 litre case of cooking oil cost about $8,500 wholesale in Soesdyke; before the cost was cheaper. I buy a pound of chicken for $400/$460; before the price was cheaper. Saltfish all expensive. I don’t know why items are so expensive because some basic food items are grown right here in Guyana. I can say that the government is doing well, we can’t blame the government for the rising cost of living. The government is developing Swan since roads are built in the village. However, I think, it’s the production cost that is high and that’s why these food items are expensive and the government should see how they can cut down on these prices. I think if the cost of production drops, food items will be sold cheaper.’
Magdalene Valenzuela
Magdalene Valenzuela: `The cost of living is affecting my family of six, including my husband and four children since the price of groceries items are high and the quantity of food items I buy to last my family for a month, runs out during the month. I would have to wait until the next month when I receive money to buy again. All food items are high, for instance, a 5 litre bottle oil cost almost $4,000 now in Soesdyke; a few months back the same bottle of oil cost about $2,900. Even a 10 kg bag of flour expensive. A 10 kg bag cost $3,000 now in Soesdyke; before the cost for the same bag was $1,900. During the month when flour run out, most of the time I can hardly afford to buy like a 2 pound or 3 pound more flour to last the kids for the month. I’m finding that I’m spending more money than saving when the month comes despite I’m not paying for electricity and water in Swan. I’m thankful for the ease on the utility bills, however, the cost of living is still high for me and family. Also, sometimes 2-3 days electricity will be off in the village and that can be hard for the residents, especially when we have children going to school. Onions all expensive. I think the government should see how they can bring the cost of living down on food items, in order to help the people with the high cost of living.’
Tricia Pierre
Tricia Pierre: `The cost of living is affecting my family a lot since the little money you work for, is not enough to buy what you need. Basic food items in Swan is expensive, such as: sugar, oil, salt; etc. A 1 litre bottle oil now cost $800 at the shop in Swan; before the cost was $500. Vegetables all gone up. It would be really helpful if the government can help me to get a farm land, so I can plant vegetables on a large scale and sell to consumers. This will help my family consisting of four persons on a daily basis with the expense we have to incur on food items. My yard space is not enough to accommodate farming on a large scale. I wouldn’t blame the government for the rising cost of living but instead the shop owners are to blame because it doesn’t matter how the government lower the cost on food items, the shop owners will still sell the items at a high cost.’
Shane Boston
Shane Boston: `Basic food items such as rice, sugar, oil and other food items are going up every day but the people’s salary is not raising. The high rise in prices every day is affecting me a lot because I’m spending more than I’m saving and sometimes I can’t afford to buy certain food items. I’m a labourer and the salary I receive cannot support me alone, even when I do other jobs just to make ends meet. Right now, a pint of rice in the village cost $220; before the cost was $160. Even the cost for Kerosene high. We need more planting in the village. I think the government should supply farmers with agriculture tools such as a tractor/tiller and seeds to aid in agriculture, so we can plant more crops and sell to consumer. I think this will help the people in Swan toward the high cost on basic food items.’
Winston Apple
Winston Apple, a 67-year-old pensioner: `Everything gone up in the market and my monthly stipend I receive cannot do to cover groceries for me and my family. A big pack Natura milk right now cost $720; a few months back, the cost for the same pack of milk was $640. A pound of chicken cost $600 now; before the cost was $460/$480 a pound. Pensioners are not working with anyone and because food items are expensive at the shops, the government should increase pensioners’ monthly stipend. Also, the government can supply every household every three months with certain groceries, such as a bag of rice and a bottle of oil. This will help the people with the cost of living.’
Arrieita Charles
Arrieita Charles: `My family is working for money and we cannot control what we buy even if grocery items are expensive in the market. We need it, we have to buy it despite the high price. The salary is low, yes, so the cost of living is affecting my family and I a little but we are coping with it. For instance, a gallon rice at the shops on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway cost $660 now; before the cost was $540 a gallon rice. Now, 5 pounds sugar cost $700; a few months back the cost was $600 for 5 pounds of sugar. I think the government should work towards lowering the cost of basic food items.’
Ide Viveiros
Ide Viveiros: `I’m a family of nine persons, including me and my children and the cost of living is affecting us a lot because not always my children work in the Interior. What I find is when we buy food Items, we are receiving less items for the money spent. Everything gone up at the shops, for example, when I used to buy a $100 bora a couple months back, I would get about 4 bora; now I’m getting less bora for a $100. Potatoes all gone up. I think the government should donate seeds for the people to plant in Moblissa to help with the cost of living. Also, to donate pesticide for the plant since that too is expensive. They should help with the water condition here too since we use the creek water to cook with.’
Indraire Thakur
Indraire Thakur: `Things are not going too well for my family consisting of three persons since we can’t save anything. Everything expensive at the shop on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. A 1 litre bottle of oil now cost $1000; before the same bottle of oil was $860. Everything I go to buy from the shops raising, now I’m hardly buying vegetables since its expensive. For example, a pound of ochro cost $360 now; before the cost was $160. I hardly plant vegetables now since the pesticide for the plant got expensive. The government shared solar panels to the residents in Moblissa but that panel don’t last long since I have to run to my neighbour in order to have it charge. Also, the water is a big issue here in the village. The government should look into this for the residents here and also the cost of living.’
Kevin Cadogan
Kevin Cadogan, a 32-year-old operator: “Everything going up in the market. My family and I sell eggs since we mind chicken. However, the eggs price going up in the market. The feed to supply the chicken is expensive too. I’m selling a tray of eggs for $1,500 now; before the cost per tray was $1,200. The cost for items in the market going up but they are not dropping. The government should look into the cost of living for the people. Another thing, I would use generator and solar panels for electricity in Moblissa since the government promised residents here to have electricity set up in the village but until now, they haven’t done that for the residents. Also, they promised to build a well somewhere in the village, but until now nothing was done for the residents. The government should look into this for the residents too.’
