Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in the areas of Amelia’s Ward and Mackenzie in Linden, Region Ten about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Collin Reynolds, a 52-year-old construction worker said: “Everything is expensive in the market and this is affecting me a lot because I’m spending more than I’m saving. When I go to the grocery shop, I suppose to be able to shop while still being able to save money. Now my money finishes fast when I buy two black bags of items and I don’t get everything I need. A small sack of Karibee rice cost $2,000 now; before the same sack of rice cost $1,700. Everything expensive, even construction materials expensive. For instance the prices for stones and cement to build buildings are not sold at a stable price, hence it’s difficult to do estimates for customers. A ton of stones cost $14,500/$15,000 now; before the cost was $12,000. Another thing, people are not getting jobs and this is affecting people since everything is high in the market. I think the government should continue doing what they are doing with the infrastructure work but they should increase people’s salary. Once the government can balance the scale of salary, people will be able to save when they come from the store. I think the government should implement price control on items so sellers won’t continuously raise their price for items in the store/market.”
Marlyn David, a 49-year-old single parent said: “The money finishes fast when I purchase food items in the market because everything is sold at a high price. This is hard on me as I’m a family of three person including my two children and I would have to find money to purchase school materials for my children’s assignment. Then my home is under construction so my family and I can have comfort. I don’t know when last I bought clothes for myself. This is really hard on me since construction materials and food items have gone up. For example, 3 boulanger now cost $500; a couple months back the same 3 boulanger cost $300. A pound of chicken cost $500/$560 at other places now; before the cost was $460. Also, a sack of Argos cement cost $17,060 now; before the cost was $16,000 and something. Then I have to pay utility bills which will now be expensive with the added expensive already. I don’t think people should live for free but instead I think the government should raise people’s wages a little more and if the people can get more jobs in Linden, they then would be able to buy food items they need.”
Japheus DaSilva, a 33-year-old teacher said: “Well the cost for food items have become expensive in the market and as a result of that there is less money for me to buy other items, such as: medical supplies and clothing. Even to save is a problem. I’m a family of four persons including my wife and two children. I’m a teacher and my wife helps me with the cost in the home as she is self-employed but we still feel the high cost when purchasing food items. I would leave Kwakwani to come to Linden to shop food items for my family because of the high price of the items sold in Kwakwani, compared to the high price food items are sold for in Linden which is cheaper but still expensive. For instance, a small pack of Fernleaf milk cost $1,100 in Kwakwani and the same pack of milk cost $800 in Linden; before the cost for the same pack of milk was $500 in Linden. In general, a pound of chicken now cost $600/$400; before the cost was $460. I think when a negotiation is done with the private sector, the government should at least consider lowering food supplies to help families. Apart from my family, they are other families who are desperately in need of that help.”
Walmer Fiedtkou, 52-year-old cleaner said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot since the salary is small and a lot of items in the market have become expensive. I’m a family of ten person including my husband, granddaughter and seven children and even though some of children help out in the home financially, we are still feeling the high cost within the home. All food items gone up in the market, I really can’t afford to buy greens since everything expensive in the market. A small pack of Natura milk now cost $900 and a small pack of Fernleaf milk cost $700 now; before both packs of milk cost $500/$400 and something. A one litre bottle oil cost $800 now; a few months ago the cost was $700/$600 and something. Two of my sons are not working, even if they try to get a job, they are not successful. I would like if the government can create more jobs, including low end jobs for people, especially the young people as the government will be able to reduce the amount of idle smokers, robbers and other crimes committed in Linden. Another thing, I have been trying to get a grant from the government to start poultry farming since I have the yard space but until now I’m unsuccessful. I would really like if the government can assist me with this.”
Joan Croft, a 72-year-old pensioner said: “The cost of living is affecting me and family since all items in the market have gone up. It is just me and my husband living and I depend on my pension to buy medication for my heart condition. I’m currently enrolled in a private clinic at a private hospital because the public hospital in Linden, to me, don’t get the medication to issue for my condition. I would like the government to look into this because the money I have to pay alone for my medication at the private hospital, is expensive. Also, I suppose to change my diet but because items being so much expensive in the market, my pension can’t do to accommodate that. Everything gone up in the market, for instance, a pack of Fernleaf milk cost $1,000/$1,200 at some places now; a few months ago the cost was $800. A pound of plantain cost $300 and something/$400 some place now; a few months ago the cost was $200. Even the cost for Bora gone up. Then, I have to pay people to clean the drainage canal in front of my home since the town council don’t do anything. I really would like the government to assist pensioners more so they can afford to buy food items.”
Onika Valladares, a 22-year-old public servant said: “I’m working part-time with the government and yes all items have gone up in the market. It’s difficult for me because not everything I can buy since my salary is not enough to buy items I need, so my family would help me sometimes to buy items I need for myself. I would mostly depend on my parents for financial support. Vegetables, stationery, groceries, hair food – everything gone up in the market. For instance, A 3 litre bottle of oil cost $2,000 and something now; before the cost was cheaper. Also, a sack of sugar cost $1,800 now; before the cost was cheaper. Even hair gel expensive, a small bottle cost $800 now and the price has been this way for a while. I think the government should reduce some of the cost items are sold for in the market because the people’s salary is not enough to buy items they need.”
Dolly Xavier, a 63-year-old security guard said: “I’m a family of four persons including my brother, daughter and granddaughter and one person going to school while the rest of us are working and the cost of living is really high for us, since sometimes we can afford to buy food items. Everybody feeling the high cost for food items in the market but we can’t do anything about it, we just have to cope with it. A lot of food items gone up in the market, for example, a 1 litre bottle of oil cost $480/$760 at some places now; a couple months back the cost was $560/$460 at some places. Also, a case of 1 lite Coca Cola drink cost $4,960; a couple months back the cost was $3,400 and something. Even the cost for rice gone up in the market now. People just living according to their salary and there is nothing we can tell the government that they would help with the cost of living because it’s already happening and nothing has been done about it so far. The government can try to reduce the cost for food items but like I said I think they cannot do anything about it.”
Dennis Charles, a 47-year-old farmer said: “I live in Mabura and I would travel from there to the Mackenzie market to buy food items and the cost is really high in the market. This is affecting my family a lot since the high cost food items are sold for in the market, just rising all the time and it’s not going down. I’m not getting to save any money since every two week I go to the market to shop food items for me and my wife, the cost goes up. For instance, I would go to the market with $40,000 to buy food items which would last for two weeks and the next week I have to go with about $70,000 to buy the same amount of food items for us. Milk, oil, onions – everything gone up in the market. A pound of onions cost about $300 and something; a few months ago, the cost was $180/$190. Even the cost for sugar gone up in the market. I used to buy a 20-pound bag of sugar for $1,500; now the cost rise to $2,800. I think the government should raise people’s salary so they can afford to buy food items. “
Holiann Thompson, a 39-year-old public servant said: “I’m working for a minimum wage and my rent alone takes up most of my money, then the cost for food items in the market high causing me not being able to buy certain items from the market. Before, I could have gone to a particular supermarket with $30,000 and buy a trolley of groceries for my family of six, including my children. Now I can do that and this is really hard on me now since my salary is low and I can’t save. In addition to that I have to pay the utility bills. All groceries items gone up in the market, for example, flour, rice, sugar, soap powder. A 20 pounds sack of flour cost $1,600/$1,700 now; a couple months back the cost was $1,200. Also, a 20 pounds sack of sugar cost $1,300/$1,400 now; before the cost was $1,000. I think the government should raise people’s salary because everything is going up in the market but our salary is not raising.
said: “Food items expensive in the market and my family and I depend on relatives to help us to buy groceries items since I’m looking for a job. Well, I see the cost for cooking oil drop lately in the market. A 1 litre bottle of oil went up to $700 a few months back; now the cost gone back down to about $500 for the same bottle of oil. Fruits all gone up in the market. Now I’m paying $500 for a small pine; before the cost was $200/$300. Also, a pound of sugar cost $300 and something; before the cost was $200 and something. Chicken cubes cost $500 and something a pack; before the cost was $300 and something. The government should reduce the cost food items are sold for in the market because not everyone can afford to buy food items with the high cost they are sold for in the market now.”
