Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in the areas of Success and Chateau Margot on the East Coast Demerara about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Loomash Ramgolan
Loomash Ramgolan, a 52-year-old truck driver said: “My two daughters are working to help me provide for the home because not every day I can work, I suffer from kidney failure. The government gave me $600,000 towards my dialysis but that wasn’t enough since the money only last for six months. Every week I have to do a dialysis. My wife stays at home and take care of me and sometimes I would drive to make some money for the home. Every time my family goes to the market, some items are always rising. The greens, for example, have risen in the market. When the cost of greens rise one week, we won’t buy anything until, maybe, the next week when the price per item reduces. Everything has gone up in the market. For example, a pound of chicken that cost $300 a few months ago; now cost $600. The cost per tray of eggs now gone up. A few months ago, a tray of eggs cost $1,200; every time my family and I go to the market, we are paying $1,500/ $1,700 per tray of eggs. The price just going up. Fish all expensive now. I think the government should reduce the prices for the duties on imported food items.”