Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in the areas of Cummings Lodge and Industry 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
Geeta Balram said: “The rising cost of living is affecting my family of four including my two kids a lot. Sometimes the money my husband and I earn can’t do to pay the utility bill and to buy food items. It’s not just me but everyone across the world is crying out for the high cost of items. My husband and I manage a bodywork for cars business and sometimes the business is slow. The cost for food items has risen in the market. Sometimes my kids and I would want things but can’t get it. Whenever I get the money then I will buy it. For example, a pound of chicken a couple months back cost $500; now a pound of chicken cost $660. A tray of eggs that cost $1,200 a few months ago; now cost $1,860. A pound of celery cost $2,500 now and the cost has remained that way for a while. The cost for certain vegetables like bora and boulanger reduced now but the cost for items like a cut of pumpkin and tomatoes have not reduced enough. Even a pound of hot peppers that cost $300/$400 before; now cost $1,000/$1,200.”
Parmanand Udistur, a 54-year-old remigrant said: “I had to cut back on my spending and buy less items. I can’t go out and party too much now since the cost for all items has increased in the markets. I’m a little fortunate to buy the items I need because I budget. The cost of living is affecting everyone. I’m self-employed while my mom, who I live with, receives her monthly pension. The cost for food items has increased in the market. For example, 3 gallon of brown rice a couple months back cost $1,600; now the same rice cost $1,800. A 20 pound cylinder cooking gas cost $4,100/$4,200; now the same cooking gas cost $4,500. The government should try to bring down the inflation because the cost of living is kind of hard for workers working for a minimu wage.”
Bibi Khan, a 60-year-old housewife said: “My husband and I don’t live alone and we find that the cost for vegetables in the market has increased. I’m trying to cope with the high cost. My husband, my son, his wife and two kids live in the home. My daughter-in-law does part-time domestic work and my son does woodworking. My husband is the sole breadwinner for me. My husband and I don’t really buy meat because the cost for chicken and fish has increased. My husband and I are waiting to reach 65 years to collect old-age pension. The cost for food items has increased in the markets. For instance, 4 pounds of sugar a couple months ago cost $260; now the same 4 pounds of sugar cost $560. A pound of chicken that cost $260/$280 before; now cost $500 a pound. A gallon brown rice a couple months back cost $580/$560; now the same brown rice cost $780 a gallon. My son and I pay the utility bills because I can’t afford to do so alone. I think the government should consider changing the old age pension age from 65-year-old to 60-year-old, so people who just turned 60 years old can receive their monthly old age pension and be able to pay their bills.”
Jashwati Rookmin, a 46-year-old single mother said: “Every week when I go to the market to shop, I have noticed that the cost for food items has been increasing rapidly. When I go to the market with $20,000 to buy food items, the next week the same food items will increase by $5,000 more. My daughter and I live together and she is the sole breadwinner for the home. Whatever money we have, we pay the utility bill and buy food items to eat. Example, a few months ago a normal pack of Fernleaf milk cost $680; now the same pack of Fernleaf milk cost almost $800. A couple months ago a medium size cooking oil cost $1,600; now the same bottle of cooking oil cost $1,800. Even the cost for a pound of tomatoes is costly still in the market. I would like if the government can provide some kind of support for me since I’m a single mother.”
Alice Abdin, said “The cost for all items has increased in the markets not only for my family of three but other families. I’m a family of three including my son and my husband. Both my son and I work. I’m a cleaner. The farmers planting vegetables right here and the vendors are selling the vegetables too expensive like when it comes from overseas. For example, the cost for a slice of pumpkin was cheaper before because for a while now a slice of pumpkin cost $600/$800. Even the cost for bora was cheaper before. As soon as the government gave an increase in salary, the vendors increasing the cost for food items. Every time I go to buy groceries, everything going up by $200 more and $300 more. For example, a gallon brown rice cost $600 before; now a gallon brown rice cost $800. Even the cost for a 1 litre bottle of cooking oil has increased. The government should try to see how they can help the vendors reduce the cost for their food items. Right now, I can’t save with the high cost for food items because every day the cost for food items has been increasing in the market.”
Rukmin Roopnarine, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is hard on both my husband and I. We survive on our pension and when we finish paying our utility bill and incur the cost to buy our monthly groceries, we are left with no money. We have to wait until the next month comes to receive our pension again. It is hard on us sometimes. All food items have increased in the markets. For example, a gallon brown rice a few months ago cost $580; now a gallon brown rice cost $666. Also, a pound of garlic that cost $200 and something a couple months ago; now cost $500. The government should increase workers’ salary and try to reduce the cost for food items.”
Preya Ramdarie, a 40-year-old single mother said: “The cost of living is hard on me as a single mother of three kids. I have to buy groceries, send my kids to school and pay the utility bills. This can be challenging on me sometimes since I have to pay rent. I only work part-time for two days a week as a cook to provide for my kids. I never apply for help from the government so I’m standing the cost for all expenditure. The cost of living is high on all food items. For example, a pound of chicken that cost $300 a few months ago; now cost $500. A cut of pumpkin that cost $200 a couple months back; now cost $800. Even the cost for boulanger and fruits has increased in the market. I think the government should either increase public servants’ salary more or reduce the cost of living. So long I applied for the part-time government work but I haven’t gotten through as yet. I would really glad if the government can help me.”
Rajnarine Singh said: “The cost of living is hard on me because when I collect my pay on Saturdays and buy food items it doesn’t do to purchase food items for my family. Even the cost of items for my baby boy is costly now. I reside with my extended family but I only provide for my wife, my son, my father-in-law and mother-in-law. The cost for all items in the market has increased. For example, a pack of big Sleepy diapers a couple months ago cost $2,700; now the same pampers cost $3,000. A pound of cabbage that cost $500/$400 a few months ago; now cost $800 a pound. I do body work for cars. Even the body filler that I use on the vehicles is costly. The government should increase workers’ salary more.”
Salita Ismond said: “I’ve returned to Guyana in September as I was away for four years and I have found that the cost of living has drastically increased compared to when I left the country in 2019. I don’t know how the average person that is not working is making out with the high cost of living, especially the ones who are depending on their monthly pension. For example, before 2019 when my husband, daughter and I used to go to the market, I would buy a small pack of Natura milk for $200 and something; now a pack of the same milk cost $600. We used to go with $40,000 to the supermarket and buy food items exclusive of vegetables. We can’t do that now. Recently, I asked my mom to pick up some snacks and other items that she wants at the supermarket and we couldn’t afford to buy all the items. Even the cost for a slice of pumpkin has increased and workers’ salary hasn’t increased. All the parents are depending on milk. We have a lot of unhealthy children growing up since a lot of them is unable to consume milk daily and this is something that is vital to their development. One of the ways the government can help mitigate that cost is to provide milk for children in school again and at the clinic for mothers. Even the cost for mangoes has increased in the market, 3 mangoes cost $500 now; before the cost for mangoes were sold cheaper in the market.”
Basdeo Ramnarine said: “The cost for all items has increased in the market and whatever money my son has to buy food items for the home, he buys. I live with my son, wife and his two children. My son is the sole breadwinner for the family. I received my NIS pension monthly. What I can say is that the cost for food items is costly in the market. For example, a bag of Bakewell bread that cost $260 a few months ago; cost $300 and something now. Also, a 1 litre Coca-Cola a few months ago cost $260; now the 1 litre Coca-Cola cost $360. I think the government should raise people’s salary more so they can afford to buy food items in the market.