Colwin Trevor, a 31-year-old grocery vendor said: “The cost of living is not only affecting me but everyone across the country because every day the price for items in the market going up. The salary is not going up and when I’m purchasing items to sell back to my customer, the items are expensive. For instance, a few months ago I used to buy $1,200 for a case of Blue water (24 by 500ml); now I’m buying the same size of water but a different brand that cost the same price as the blue water for $1,400. Even onions expensive, I’m selling a pound of onions for $260 now; a few months ago I used to sell a pound of onions for $160. Also, building material all gone up. The cost for wood is expensive. I’m trying to save money to construct a good grocery stand for a while now but because of the high price building materials are sold for in the market, I had to put it on hold. The cost for a BM of wood is $200 and something; a few months back the cost was $140. I really would like the government to help us in reducing the cost for items sold in the market and to assist me with some building materials to complete the building of my grocery stall. Also, I really would like the government to visit the East La Penitence and help with the development, especially on the dam.”
Nicholas Edinboro, a 25-year-old mason said: “The cost of living has been affecting me and family a lot since the salary cannot do sometimes for us. Sugar, oil; the cost for everything gone up in the market. For example, a few months ago, a small Karibee rice cost $1,800/$1,700; now the same karibee rice cost $2,500. Also, now a pound of chicken cost $560/$700 certain places; before the cost was $ 340/$380. I would like if the government can assist me in financing at least 200-300 white fowl since I have space in my yard just to help out with the rising cost of living. Also, at the back of East La Penitence and North East La Penitence we need proper roads because when the rain falls here, the place would be sappy making it impossible to manoeuvre around. One time the minister and team visited the community and look around and afterward they never visited the area again. The drainage canal all need cleaning. I would like if the government can check us out and help us.”
Neslin Waterman, a 68-year-old pensioner said: “My extended family and I live together and we would share the cost for the utility bills but carry the grocery cost for our individual family. My siblings are working except me. I would use my pension to buy grocery for my family. My mother used to help us but she died recently, so it’s just me and the cost of living is affecting me since the cost for some food items have gone up. This is heavy on me when buying groceries every week for my family of three. $5,000 now cannot do for three days for my family because of the high cost some food items are sold for in the market. I would have to budget myself so I can afford to buy items for my family, for example, a pound of chicken now cost $460; a few months ago the cost was $300 and something. A pound of onions now cost $260; before the cost was $100 a pound. In the nearby market, I could get 1 onion for a $100, if I can’t afford to buy a whole pound. I commend the government in helping the school children and children with disabilities, however, I would really like if the government can assist the people with reducing the high cost on food items.”
Saudat Singh, a 58-year-old construction worker said: “When I buy one or two items with $5000, the money finishes easily and this has been affecting me because the salary I’m working for cannot do to buy food items in the market. Everything gone up in the market and I’m living alone but still I can barely buy food items for me. For instance, a 1 gallon bottle of cooking oil cost $5,000 and something now; a few months ago, the same bottle oil cost $3,000 and something. Vegetables all gone up, I’m buying 3 boulanger for $500 now; before I would buy 4 for $500. The government cannot stop the items from rising but instead they can increase people’s salary to help with the high cost of living.”
Chennelle Edwards said: “I recently moved into the neighbourhood and I can say that yes, the food items have gone up in the market. My family consisting of 5 persons are trying to cope with the cost of living despite the high cost of food items sold in the market place. Now, a pound of mince beef and beef cost $1,560; before a pound of beef cost about $360 and the cost for mince beef was cheaper. Even vegetables gone up in the market, I’m getting a really small parcel of bora for a $100 now and for my family, we have to buy like $500 in bora to get a reasonable parcel to feed our family. A few months ago, my family used to buy $300/ $500 for a big parcel of bora compared to now. There are persons who are unemployed and need a job to provide for themselves and their family. I think the government should help those in getting jobs since the cost of living is high. Also, to raise the salary for low end workers.”
Allison Scott said: “I came back from the United Kingdom recently and I’m seeing that the cost for everything has gone up in the market. I can’t do anything about it, I just have to cope with it. This is affecting me a lot because I’m running a small business and the money cannot do to support my family of ten including my husband because everything gone up in the market. My husband works but his salary is low and cannot do to support our family. Oil, flour, sugar; everything gone up in the market. A couple months back, a 1 gallon bottle oil cost $3,000 and something; now the same bottle oil cost $7,000. Also, a tray of eggs cost $2,200 now; before the cost was $800/$900 a tray. The government should help poor people with the cost of living since most of them cannot afford to buy food items.”
Paul Scott said: “The cost of living is very high for me and family since the cost for all food items have gone up in the market. Since the oil start producing in Guyana, I’m seeing building being built but money is not circulating in Guyana. I’m qualify in carpentry, and I would usually take any job I get just to support my family of five, including my two kids and wife. Since everything gone up in the market, for example, a small bottle of cooking oil cost $300 and something now; before the cost was $160. A pound of garlic cost $480 now; before the cost was $360/$260 wholesale. The salary I’m working for a day as a painter is not enough to support my family. I think the government should work towards reducing the food items so people can afford to buy them.”
Oneca Caesar, a 37-year-old caterer said: “The cost of living is affecting my family because my husband does farming and when he sells his produce, he’s not getting enough money for his produce. This affects my family of six, including my four children, financially when it comes to supporting them. I make pastry and other items for people to help support my family and I can say that everything has gone up in the market. A gallon bottle of oil cost $2,500/$2,000 now; before the cost was $2,100. Now I’m buying a half bag of sugar for $7,500 now because I can’t afford to buy a bag of sugar. A bag of sugar a couple months ago cost $13,800. The government should work to reduce the cost of living because everything has gone up in the market. Another thing, the government should pay more attention to the North East La Penitence community because the community needs a lot development.”
Victor Willis, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is not affecting me much because I’m a pensioner but still the money can’t do to cover food items because everything has gone up in the market. I’m trying to cope with the cost of living by working with a budget. Fruits all gone up: a watermelon cost $1,600 now; a few months back the cost was $$500/$600. Even grocery items gone up, a pint of peas cost $300 and something now; before the cost was $160. Also, a pound of flour cost $400 and something now; before the cost was $260. I think the government should reduce the Value-Added Tax on food items to help with the cost of living.”
Francine Bovell said: “The cost of living is affecting my family and I since everything has gone up in the market and the salary has not risen. I’m a family of six persons and everyone is working but still the cost of living affects us. A big bottle of oil cost about $3,000 now; before the cost was $2,000/$2,200. A pound of sugar cost $300 now; a few months the cost was $160 a pound of sugar. I think at least every month or two months the government can provide every family with some money to help with the cost of living.”
