Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in the area of Saywah, Cane Grove, 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 Shiwmanga
Sayah David said: “The cost of grocery item increases in the market every week because when my parents visited the market a week ago, the cost had increased for items and the next week, the cost for the same items would have increased even higher in the market. The cost of some vegetables, however, has increased in the market while the cost for some has reduced in the market. Right now, the cost for grocery items has increased in the market. My family of four just have to budget to make ends meet. My parents don’t buy vegetables because when my father plants vegetables with other people in the area, they usually give him some of the produce to take home. They just buy other grocery items. For instance, a small pack of curly Champion macaroni a few months ago cost $240; now the same pack of macaroni cost $280 and that cost has remained like that since December. Also, a beverage such as a 1 litre Coca Cola that cost $460 a couple months back; now the same 1 litre drink cost $500, the cost has been that way since December. The government should consider reducing the cost for food items so it can be much more affordable to people.”
Hazrat Ali
Hazrat Ali, a pensioner said: “I receive help from my son and other relatives sometimes when purchasing food items but still the cost of living still affects me. The cost of living is affecting me a lot because the monthly pension I receive is not enough to support me. Then I have to pay about $5,000 a month for the water bill. I’m trying to cope with the high cost on food items. For example, a pound of cabbage before cost $200; now a pound of cabbage cost $500. A couple months back a pound of tomatoes cost $300; now a pound of tomatoes cost $600. Even the cost for boulanger and other grocery items in the market has increased. People just have to cope with the cost wholesalers and retailers are selling their food items for in the market. As such, the government should raise our monthly pension more.”
Omadat Persaud
Omadat Persaud, a 59-year-old part-time security guard said: “The cost of living is high now and when I finally work, the salary is not enough to buy food items, cooking gas and pay the utility bills. I have my own kitchen garden and I’m a part-time security guard. Whatever vegetables I receive from my garden I sell to provide for my family of three in order to cope with the cost of living. For example, the cost of fish has increased in the market. Two Bangamary fish that cost $300 before; now cost $500. Also, a pound of mutton that cost $1,200 before now cost $1,800. Even the cost for beef has increased in the market. The government should reduce VAT on all food items. Some of the vegetables I planted didn’t grow well because of the dry weather, so now I’m planting back some while other vegetables that was planted in the dry season hasn’t reach the maturity stage as yet.”
Rajkumar Deosaran
Rajkumar Deosaran, a 58-year-old labourer said: “The cost for all food items has increased in the market. Kerosene, flour, sugar; the cost for everything has risen in the market. I’m a family of four and I’m the sole provider for my home and my salary is not enough, but I try to cope with the cost of living. For example, a few months ago, a 1 kg pack of Demerara Gold sugar cost $140; now the same package of sugar cost $360. Also, a 2kg pack of Thunderbolt flour a few months ago cost $240; now the same flour cost $340. Even the cost for a bundle of bora has increased in the market. Now, the cost for food items has increased everyday in the market. The government should consider reducing the price for basic food items, such as sugar and flour.”
Joseph Pitam
Joseph Pitam, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is affecting me, even though I would usually receive my monthly pension followed by the financial support my son give to me, in order to buy food items for the home. One of my sons live with me and he works. The cost for most food items has increased in the market. For example, a couple months ago, a pound of garlic cost about $100 and something/ $200 and something; now a pound of garlic cost nearly $500. Also, a gallon rice that cost $400 and something a couple months back; now cost $700. Even the cost for cooking oil and flour has increased in the market. The government is trying their best to help the people with the cost of living, the people just have to cope with the rising cost of living.”
Anita Deosarran
Anita Deosarran, a 51-year-old housewife said: “The rising cost of living is hard on my family and I but we are coping with it.
The electricity cost especially is costly for my family because last September, my home was destroyed in a fire and now, I’m not occupying the building because it is under construction but still, I had to pay the high electricity bill for two months, despite I queried from GPL about the bill. Last month I saw an improvement in the bill since the cost went down to $2,000 but this month, I had to pay $16,000.
This is really affecting me because my family and I are staying temporary at a lower flat of our neighbour’s home and we agree to dwell in the flat and pay the electricity. So, we just don’t understand why we have to pay so much on electricity we are not consuming in our home. On top of that, the cost for grocery items has been increasing in the market every day. Even the cost for building material has increased in the market.
I’m a family of four and my husband is a rice farmer that provide for his family of four. Also, due to the community is that of farming, we receive vegetables from neighbours, so we don’t have to worry about that. For example, a pound of garlic a few months ago cost $160; now a pound of garlic cost $400. Also, the cost for cement has increased in the market.
A sling of cement a couple months ago was cheaper; now a sling of cement cost $74,000. Well, I saw that the cost for certain vegetables, like pumpkin, has reduced in the market. A small cut of pumpkin cost $400 now; a couple month ago it was higher. The government should reduce the cost for grocery items. Also, in relation to my unfortunate situation, the government should consider reducing the cost of building material to cater for people in these situations.”
Sunita Jadunauth
Sunita Jadunauth said: “When I visit the market every week to buy food items, I find that the cost has increased. This has been affecting me a lot since my money is not enough to cover the cost. I just have to cope with the cost of living. I’m a family of four and my husband is the sole breadwinner for us. For example, a bundle of bora that cost $200 before; now cost $500/$600. A small pack of Thunderbolt flour that cost $560 a couple months ago; now cost $570. The government should consider reducing the cost for basic food items more.”
Ganesh Samai
Ganesh Samai, a truck driver said: “The cost of living is affecting my family and I since the cost for the items is costly. My salary is not enough to buy things I need. I’m a family of three including my wife and baby. For example, a pack of diapers for the baby last year cost $3,000 and something; now a pack of diapers cost $4,700. Also, a tin of Enfamil formula last year cost $2,700; now the same formula cost $3,300 and something. I can’t say what the government should do about the cost of living, we just have to cope with it.”
Sahadeo Kishun
Sahadeo Kishun, a 47-year-old carpenter said: “The cost of living is hard for my family of four when purchasing food items from the market because the cost for grocery items has increased. I’m selling vegetables and nobody is not buying from me, I don’t understand why since I’m selling at a cheaper cost.
For example, a big bag of Karibee rice cost $6,000 and something; now the same bag of rice cost $8,000. Even a big cylinder cooking gas that cost $4,000 a couple month ago; now cost $4,500. I plant vegetables and try to rear chicken but the cost for both the feed and fertilizers are expensive. The government should consider providing fertilizers/feed to the people once again to help us with the high cost of living.”
Nandram Dookie
Nandram Dookie, a 48-year-old rice farmer said: “The cost of living is high on all items including the cost for a bag of fertilizers and drugs to use in the cultivation of rice.
I produce rice on a large scale for many years and what I can say is that the government did help us with fertilizers and drugs before for the growing of rice, however I really would like the government to let us know when they will be distributing these things again, since they have already taken the bookings for them.
This will help me as a rice farmer with the high expense incurred and the payment that we received for our paddy could then remain the same. The fertilizers cost has reduced a little now, but the cost is still high for farmers as it was cheaper before. Among the fertilizers I used, a bag of the mixture fertilizer cost $6,500 a couple months back; now a bag of the same fertilizer cost $11.000. Well, a bag of drugs for the rice cost $2,000 and something before; now the same bag cost $3,000 and something.
Even, the cost for grocery my family and I buy has increased in the market. For example, a small sack of rice a couple month ago cost $2,000/$1,900; now the same sack of rice cost $2,400/$2300.”
