Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Laing Avenue, Georgetown about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Maureen Harry, a 48-year-old housewife: `The cost of living is affecting me financially because items are expensive in the market and the salary my common-law husband work for is not enough to take care of my family of six persons including my three children. A 3-litre bottle of cooking oil a few months ago cost $1,400/$1,500; now the cooking oil cost almost $3,000. The medium bag Karibee rice before cost $1,500; now a bag of Karibee rice cost $1,800 and at some places $2,000. I think the government need to drop the price on certain food items since everything has gone up in the market. Even the cost for a tray of eggs gone up…’
Yonette Paddy, a 51-year-old caterer: `Well I don’t’ really have children because my daughter is all grown, so I’m trying to cope with the cost of living with my catering and seasoning business. When I go to the shop to purchase items for my food business, I have seen that the cost for all food items have increased to a point where you just have to flex with the customer with the rising of goods. For instance, if you raise and sell your item to the customers today and then you go to the market the next day and food items raise, you can’t raise the items again because not all consumers can afford it. They will have a hard time purchasing our items. When I started selling seasoning, a pound of celery was like $200 a pound; now a pound of celery cost $5000/$6,000. I could not have run the seasoning business alone but do both seasoning and catering business instead, just to push the finances a little. Everything gone up in the market, well I see the cost for cooking oil gone down, the cost went up a few months ago. But, meat such as chicken gone up, a pound of chicken a few months ago cost $400; now a pound of chicken cost $460, $480 and $500. The cost for a pound of mince chicken and chicken breast gone up. A pine that cost $400 before, now cost $800. I think the government should give subsidy to every household, depending on the amount of person in the home. We know the government would have given parents money to purchase uniform for their children but I don’t think that’s helping because we have children in the area that still haven’t gone to school because of insufficient finance in the home. I mean getting to purchase the uniform for the children is one thing but parents are finding it very difficult to provide snacks and so, every day for their children. I think if the government provide transportation for school children, this will take a burden away from the parents as they will be able to purchase more food items for their children. I had that problem but my daughter is grown up now, so I don’t have to study about her transportation cost anymore.’
Michelie Spellen, a 52-year-old domestic worker said: `The cost for everything gone up in the market and my family and I are trying to cope with it by using a lot of peas. I’m a single parent of three children and my eldest son work and would help out in the home. I do domestic work whenever I get work. In the home, I would have to cut down in buying certain food items because all food items have gone up in the market. For instance, a 1-litre bottle of cooking oil a few months ago cost $400, $450 and $500; now the cooking oil cost $700. Also, a pound of milk a couple months ago cost $300/$360; now a pound of milk is $700. Farming is good you know, I think the government should help people with a piece of farming land since our local produce is good and will help us with the high cost of living. I’m really glad if I can have a piece of farming land, I will plant all kinds of vegetables, use some in the home and sell some to take care of my family.’
Jilly Allen said: `The cost of living is affecting me a great lot. $5000 now can only buy a few items; before I used to get more items for $5000. All items are costly now in the market, Vegetables and other grocery items all gone up in the market. Another thing, I have a daughter that is disabled, she enrolled in a clinic but the money I receive every month to take of her is only $16,000 and with the high cost of living that money can’t do… one time I received pampers for my daughter from Food for the Poor. When I carried a paper to Food for the Poor to get help for my daughter, I have to wait long. I don’t know what is happening here. I would like the government to look into families that have persons living with disability because with this high cost of living, we have to spend extra money for items. For instance, a big bottle of drinking water for the home a few months ago, cost $140/$160, then the cost went up to $200; now the cost for drinking water is $300. Even, the small bottles of water expensive now. Also, a 5-gallon bottle of oil a few months ago cost $5,500; now the bottle of oil cost $10,000. I normally cook and sell food to support my family every day but now I’m only working two days because I have to take care of my daughter. Sometime I would flex with my customer when they can’t afford to pay the price for my food. Even the cost for chicken and eggs gone up in the market. The government should place price control on all food items so people can afford to buy food items.’
Urla Henry, a 66-year-old pensioner said: `The cost of living is affecting me because I have to spend more and I’m getting less items for my money. I have to make do with it, I don’t have a choice. A pound of ochro a few months ago cost $200; now a pound of ochro cost $300. The cost for a pound of cabbage before was $500; now a pound of cabbage cost $640. Even the cost for tomatoes gone up in the market, a pound of tomatoes before cost $200; now a pound of tomatoes cost $700. Five persons are living in the home and I rely on my shop for a daily living and my monthly pension. I think the government should look into the farmers to see how they are selling their produce and see how they can keep food price at a stable price. I don’t know why these things are selling so expensive in the market.’
Curk Forde, a 52-year-old vendor: `The cost of living is affecting the entire country. People can’t afford to live on their salary because the cost of living is high, especially single parents who have rent, utility bill to pay and then have to find food to eat when the day comes. A couple months ago, 2 pounds of ochro cost $100; now a pound of ochro cost $300. Plantain prices went down a few days ago and rise up back now to $260 a pound retail. Even the cost for passion fruits gone up. Persons blame the dry weather for the high rise in food items but to me, it not only have to do with the dry weather since a lot of our food is being exported out of Guyana and the few food items that are in Guyana is what have the high price. The cost of living is not affecting me much because I’m a buyer and a seller who would buy in bulk but will affect consumers in the area that have to buy vegetables to cook for their children, and are single or have a partner and is renting an apartment. Also, It not easy for me some time to make a profit because I have to make my capital plus make a profit on the money invested in buying vegetables to sell back and not always I reach my target. I think the government has to control the food economy so the cost of food items can be at a stable price. Another thing, the pave located on Sheriff Street, Georgetown (from Campbellville to Pike street), the government need to do something about it. The vehicles take over the pave where we, the citizens have to walk.’
Roderick George, a 41-year-old welder said: `Everything is expensive in the market and soon as you break a $5000, it is finished and this is kind of hard for me when taking care of my family. My wife and I are working to take care of the kids despite the high cost of living. Greens, seasoning and fruits have really gone up in the market, I don’t use much meat. A few months ago, I bought 4/5 stems of celery for $200; now I’m buying 2 stems of celery for $200. A pound of cabbage before cost $300; now a pound of cabbage cost $400/$500. Even pak-choy gone up. The government should raise public servants’ salary and assist in providing transportation for the school children.’
Eunice Waddle, a pensioner said: `The cost of living is affecting me because the price for food items in the market gone up. I’m a family of five and only my son and his wife are working to provide for the family followed by my monthly pension. We normally have to cut down on buying certain food items because the salary is too small to buy certain items. We basically ended up paying more for food items. For example, a pound of plantain that cost $160/$120 a few months ago now cost $180 a pound. A few months ago, two roots of pak-choy cost $200; now two roots of pak-choy cost $300. I think the government should work towards reducing the price for food items and raise the people’s salary.’
Tashana Paddy, a 31-year-old housewife said: `The cost of living is not affecting me but my husband, three children and I are coping with it. My husband is the sole bread winner for my family and I try to cut down on certain food items and utilize what every items we have. We budget ourselves to pay the vehicle installment, school fees and the cost incurred for food items and other things. I don’t know how my husband manage to provide for us but he does it. Everything has gone up in the market, for example, a pound of chicken cost $480 a few months ago; now a pound of chicken cost $660. $5000 use to do to buy fruits for my family and $5000 in greens, now i have to walk with more than $5000 to buy fruits and greens. A few months ago, 5 tangerine cost $200; now 4 tangerine cost $1000. I think the government should help persons who are really affected by the cost of living. Some people that can’t afford it, I feel sorry for them, especially government workers who are receiving one basic salary every month. I don’t know how they manage when they have bills to pay, rent, transportation, cost incurred in taking care of their children and so. Even the pensioners need help.’
Donna Sobers, a 56-year-old single parent said: `The cost of living has been affecting my family and I a great deal. I’m a single parent of four children, one of my children working but the salary that she’s working for, cannot do to buy food items we need. At the market all food items have gone up. So we can’t afford to buy certain food items we want. By the grace of God I’m coping, I just have to cut my eye on certain items. For example, a medium size Karibee rice a few months ago cost $1,500; now the same bag of rice cost $1,800/$1,900. A pound of beef that cost $600 a few months ago; now cost $800 a pound. The government should help everyone with the cost of living and not one set of persons.’