Stabroek News spoke to members of the public at Liliendaal, 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
Beagai Singh
Beagai Singh, a pensioner said: “I won’t say that the cost of living is hard on my family since my grandson and I live together but I can say that the cost of living is high. We are coping with it. My grandson works and I have a shop I run to bring in some extra income, in addition to my pension I receive monthly. I’m feeling the cost of living more on the electricity bill despite the cost for some food items has increased in the market. For example, a tray of eggs that cost $1,100 a few months ago; now cost $1,400. Also, a 20-pound cylinder of gas a few months ago cost $3,000 and something; now the same cooking gas cost $4,000 and something. Even the cost for a small pack of Karibee rice and chicken have risen in the market. I can admit the government is trying with the cost of living at the moment, however, I would be glad to have some assistance with the cost of living.”
Shirley Persaud
Shirley Persaud said: “The cost of living is very hard for my family that consist of eight persons, since the cost for all food items has increased in the market. I’m trying to cope with the cost of living in many ways, budgeting is one of them. My husband and one of my children are working. In addition to that, I try to bring in an extra income in the home by selling grocery items from the small shop I have in front of my home. For example, a pint of split peas a few months ago cost about $200 and something; now a pint of split peas cost $300. A small bag Karibee rice that cost $1,700 a few months ago; now cost $2,200. The government is trying with the cost of living but I think they can try a little more to help people with the rising cost of living.”
Rayvon Legall
Rayvon Legall said: “The cost of living for food items is high since the money value is low and the cost for food items is high so when I go to the market to purchase food items, I can’t afford it sometimes. I would have to try to manage my finances when I receive my salary. I’m a family of five and both my wife and I work to provide for our three children. We even do a side hustle by rearing turkeys to bring in an extra income to provide for our family but still the cost of living is high. The cost for pumpkin right now is high in the market. Pumpkin prices fluctuate. For example, before a cut of pumpkin cost $200/$300; now a cut of pumpkin cost $600. I don’t know why the prices for food items are so high in the market, but I find when I buy pumpkin by the pound, the cost is higher versus the size of pumpkin I receive for my money, but still the vendors are selling the cost for a cut of pumpkin too high. Also, a bundle of bora some time last year cost $300/$400; right now, a bundle of bora cost $1,200 and sometimes if I’m lucky I would buy $500 worth in bora from a vendor. Even the cost for cabbage has increased… Since the cost for food items has increased in the market, the government should increase people’s salary more so they can afford to purchase food items and also send officers in the market to monitor the prices vendors selling their food items for.”
Eleanor Cumberbatch
Eleanor Cumberbatch said: “The cost of living is indeed high and it affects my family of four, not just us but everybody…We try to make the best out of this bad situation. Two persons are working to provide for my family. The cost for all food items has increased… the cost for bora was cheaper the other day, but recently the cost has increased again. For example, the other day I bought $500 for a good bundle of bora; now a bundle of bora cost about $600. Even a pound of plantain has increased in the market now. A pound of plantains a couple months back cost $200/$250; now a pound of plantains cost $300. Our country is producing oil now, so I think the government should give every household some kind of financial support to help with the cost of living.”
Eric Haynes
Eric Haynes, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is terrible. The cost for items at the shop has increased. My electricity bill has also increased. Even the maintenance cost spent to maintain my home has increased. My wife and I live alone and we would have to ease up on our spending for certain food items in order to cope with the cost of living. The cost of living in general is high. For example, a small watermelon that cost $800 a couple month back; now cost $1,000. Also, a pound of bananas that cost $600 a few months ago; now cost $700/$800, depending on where I buy it from. The government should work towards bringing down the cost a little more or increase people’s monthly pension more.”
Dalila Victorine
Dalila Victorine said: “The cost of living is not really affecting my family and I because I understand that certain seasons the cost for food items would fluctuate, depending on the products. Certain seasons, the cost for items would increase, higher than usual, so normally when that happens, we don’t buy it or we try to purchase the items from somewhere that is cheaper. However, when it comes to vegetables, we grow it rather than buy it. Well, I have seen that the cost for food items has increased in the markets, for example, eschalot. A pound of eschalot a few months ago cost about $500/$600; now a pound of eschalot cost $1,400. I think since the cost of living has increased, the government should increase the salary more, so people can live on their monthly salary or people can afford to purchase certain food items.”
Nathasha Williams
Nathasha Williams, a 34-year-old single mother said: “The cost of living is high but I still try to manage it because many days I don’t have money to go to the shop to buy food items. I’m a family of four and despite three of us are working, we are still feeling the high cost of living. I normally would send money for my four children who stay with my mother. For example, a big pack of Natura milk a few months ago cost about $700 and something; now the same pack of Natura milk cost $900 and something/ $1,000 at some places. Also, a few months ago, a small bag of Karibee rice cost $1,800/$1,700; now the same bag of rice cost $2,000. Well, the cost for potatoes, cooking oil and onions have reduced in the market. I think the government should monitor the cost food items are sold for in the market because most single mothers can’t afford to buy the items at such a high cost. “
Gloria Ramdhari
Gloria Ramdhari, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is affecting my family and I because the monthly pension I receive can’t do to buy food items. I’m a family of four and whatever finance we have, we pool it together and buy food items to cope with the high cost of living. For example, a small pack of Natura milk cost $400 a few months ago; now the same Natura milk cost $600/$700. Also, a few months ago, a small pack of Karibee rice cost $300/$400; now that same pack of rice cost about $700 and something. I have seen the other day the cost for both tomatoes and cabbage were high. I can’t say what the government can do about this because I see they are trying already to help us with the cost of living. I aware that the government is increasing our monthly pension a little.”
Joseph Lee
Joseph Lee said: “The cost of living is high indeed. Even, the cost for a pack of biscuit and other snacks for my grandchildren have VAT on it, hence the cost is high. The cost for everything has increased in the market. When you think that the tax on certain items has reduced, it has not because when I go to the shop and so, the items have VAT on it. Right now, $5,000 can’t buy anything really because I purchase like three items recently and the money finished. For example, a few months ago, a pint of channa cost $250; now a pint of channa cost $600. Everyday the cost for some items increasing in the market. A few months ago, the cost for a small pack of Demerara Gold sugar was cheaper; now the same pack of sugar cost $600. Even the cost for bora has increased in the market. Well, I see the cost for squash has reduced in the market. I would like the government to help us with a small business loan towards a business to help with the rising cost of living.”
Ramaeo Chandrabhan
Ramaeo Chandrabhan, a contractor said: “The cost of living is not affecting me because I have a good job but yet for other people, I think things could be a little more affordable. I don’t know how they manage with the cost of living. For example, if you shop at certain supermarkets, the prices will be really high at times. I support all the supermarkets, even the ones that are not own by Guyanese like Massy and others. I find that Massy prices are too high compared to other supermarkets. I prefer to buy certain items from Survival Supermarket. I divide my shopping between the supermarkets. However, in relation to the actual markets, I don’t cry out when I’m buying because I know what the farmers have to go through to get their produce on the markets and these things. I can recall when I go to the market, I was buying $1,200 for a cut of pumpkin when I used to pay $200 for the same cut before; now the cost for a cut of pumpkin has reduced to $400/$500 from $1,200. At Bourda market, you can get like 12 mangoes now for $1,000; 6 mangoes two month back cost about $1,000. There are a lot of opportunities out there but if people want to sit at home, then the cost of living will be hard but if you come out and work, and you get a job that can pay you, because there are many job opportunities right now with all the construction going on. I’m a contractor and I do come out because I get the motivation. What I can say though is that the cost for baby items has increased now compared to before, when my kids who are big now was growing up. The government can’t do what they are already doing and that is by creating markets, for instance the farmers market and many more opportunity like grants to small businesses, school, kids. I think the government is doing quite enough right now for the people. I think the government is doing quite ok with the subsidies right now, and then there is more to come with the recent budget. The government can’t do more than it’s already doing. “
