Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Non-Pareil, East Coast Demerara about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
By Subhana Shiwmangal
Awad Persaud, a 52-year-old part-time weeder said: “The cost of living is rough on me because sometimes I get work and sometimes I don’t. I’m a weeder and I depend on this job to pay my bills along with selling some vegetables from my kitchen garden. I’m living alone and because of my health condition, I can’t weed at a certain time, only in the mornings but not to overdo it. Right now, the prices for greens and so going up back in the market. I purchase greens from the bus that pass often in the area and I found that the prices for greens were cheaper a few weeks ago, now the prices going up back, not only from retailers selling in the area but at the markets as well. For example, in January, I bought a pound of eschalot for $300 from the bus; now a pound of eschalot cost $800 from the bus. In January, a pound of peppers cost $300 in the market; now a pound of pepper cost $700/600 in the market. The cost for items going up back. Well, the cost of living is a world-wide problem. People said since this government takeover, things getting worse, no that’s not true; this problem is something that happens worldwide. We just have to cope with the rising cost of living. We can’t blame the government. If you want the items, you have to buy it. You have to get up and get.”
Ray Burnette
Ray Burnette said: “Right now, I’m living alone and everything is alright. The prices for some food items are indeed high in the market. I don’t really feel the high cost of living much because I have a good job. I make Kokers for a living. Sometimes, when the prices for food items increase in the markets, I find myself not being able to afford it, but I still try to cope with it by purchasing less items; I would budget. Right now, the cost for greens gone down back. For example, in January I bought 2 boulanger for $500; now I’m buying 3 boulanger for $200. The prices for grocery items are still high in the market. For example, the cost for a pint of black-eyed peas was $200/180 a couple months back; now a pint of black-eyed peas cost $400. Also, a gallon brown rice cost about $560 a few months ago; now a gallon brown rice cost about $860. Well, the farmers are saying the cost for their produce depends on the sufficient rainfall and that the crops are not growing well sometimes and so on. I think people have to plant more; get their own kitchen garden to help with the rising cost of living.”
Ramattie Jewan
Ramattie Jewan, a pensioner said: “Things are hard when buying food items from the market to cook. I receive my monthly pension. I don’t work anywhere. I’m a family of four, including my daughter and her two children. Right now, my daughter is looking for a job and she’s not finding any job, but my two grandchildren are working to help out in the home. Whatever items we have to cook, we are satisfied with it. We try to cope with the cost of living. Once a week I go to the market to purchase food items. I usually get help from family members. The prices for everything gone up in the market. For example, a pound of cabbage cost $200/300 before; now a pound of cabbage cost $500. Also, a gallon brown rice cost $500 a few months ago; now the same gallon rice cost $700. Things hard now. I think the government and vendors need to reduce the cost for all food items to help with the cost of living.”
Kemala Goulcharran
Kemala Goulcharran, a 42-year-old single mother said: “The cost of living is high, yes and I’m trying to cope with it. I’m a family of four. My dad and husband passed so my two children are working to help out in the home while my mother receives her pension. I’m not working at the moment. The prices for greens have dropped a little in the market but items are still expensive. Sometimes, when I go to the shop when the children receive their monthly salary, sometimes one month the cost for grocery items will go up to $50,000, the next month $48,000; the prices fluctuate a lot. To me every time you go to the shop to purchase grocery items, the prices for items have risen. For example, a tube of Colgate MaxFresh toothpaste a couple months ago cost about $700 and something; now the same tube of toothpaste cost $900. A pound of chicken cost $260/$300 before; now a pound of chicken cost $500. The government should at least try to reduce the taxes on some of the grocery items because we pay taxes mostly on grocery items. Also, the government should try to reduce the cost for feed so farmers can resell their chicken at an affordable cost whilst making a profit.”
Rahim Delon
Rahim Delon said: “The cost of living is a little bit high for me. I improvise, in a sense that you have to do what you have to do because the cost of living is based on a daily living as we are talking about food and paying the bills. Those are things you have to do no matter what your condition; you have to eat and you have to pay the bills. The cost of living is going to affect your savings, things you may want to do and need to do but you can’t do. Yes, it affects me in this way. Both my wife and I are not working; we survive on our savings. I’m a family of three, including my nephew who goes to school. I mean, if you want to save $1,000 more, you can’t do that. For instance, I bought a pound of plantains recently for my mother and I didn’t even know it cost $300 for a pound for plantains; a couple months back a pound of plantains cost about $220. Things like that, when you do your tally up at the end of the month and you look at the expenses and you see that it is increasing but your income is still stable then the cost of living will affect you. Well, the cost for greens will always fluctuate based on the amount that is on the market. For example, you could buy a slice of pumpkin for $400 but tomorrow when you go to the market, you can get that same slice of pumpkin for $200. This is because five more persons are selling pumpkin. Another item like the cost for cooking gas has increase. A 20-lbs cylinder cooking gas a couple months back cost about $4,700; now the same cooking gas cost $5,000. I think the government should implement a system in condition where the cost of living is so high, they can distribute food stamps, hampers and so to people because we can’t control the cost of living. When the cost of living goes up people’s salary do not increase. I think this is where the government should try to step in and assist us.”
Janki Peter
Janki Peter, a 63-year-old vendor said: “The cost of living is really tough because the cost for everything is expensive. My husband died so I don’t receive assistance anywhere to help with the cost of living. I’m living alone so I find it difficult when paying the utility bills. I have a stall in Bourda market and I have to pay $2,500 in rent every month. When there are no greens in my garden to harvest, how am I going to get the money to pay my rent? I don’t receive any help from the government to pay my expenses. If I earn an extra income from selling my greens, I would buy a couple chicken and rear it. Well, I don’t have to pay for my medication, I get that from the hospital. The cost for items in the market are high now, for example a 5 -litre bottle of oil a few months cost about $2,300; now the same bottle of oil cost $2,900. Also, a 10kg bag of Karibee rice before cost about $1,800; now I’m buying the same rice for $2,200/$2,300 at some place. The government should consider reducing the prices on food items.”
Mabel Watson
Mabel Watson, a 36-year-old housewife said: “The cost of living is affecting me very hard because work is slow and when I go to the supermarket, the prices for all items have gone up. You can’t go and shop at the supermarket like before. If your children/child going to school every day, it is costly because you have to find snacks and food for them every day. My husband, one of my children and I are currently living with a family friend. My husband works part-time and takes care of us. Right now, the work is slow, but we are still trying to cope. Sometimes when I go to the market, the cost for greens goes up, sometimes the prices reduce, so I can’t really say which one of the vegetables are high. For instance, sometimes I go to the market and purchase a slice of pumpkin for $200/$300; when I go back to the market, the cost goes up to $400, depending on the cut. A few months ago, a small bundle bora consisting of 15-20 strands of bora cost $200; now the same bundle bora cost $400. Vendors saying the cost for bora has reduced but I think the cost is still high. The cost for rice has increased in the supermarket now. Before, a 20kg Karibee rice cost $1,740; now the same bag of rice cost $2,100. The government should consider reducing the cost for food items.”
Roxanne Nicholas
Roxanne Nicholas, said: “The prices for things in the market are very expensive right now. It’s like we have to buy less and eat less to cope with the cost of living. To me the cost for greens fluctuates in the market; sometimes the prices are high while sometimes it’s low. For example, a pound of cheese a few months ago cost $800/$900; now a pound of cheese cost $1,000. Also, a pound of cabbage cost $350/$400; now a pound of cabbage cost $500. Before cabbage was sold cheaper in the market like $200/$300. I think the people should consider planting more vegetables, by utilizing whatever space they have in their yards to help with the high cost. I’m a family of three, including my son and daughter who are currently working. Despite my children are working, they have their own expense. It is hard on us because I still have bills to pay and rent to pay also. Right now, I’m advertising my pepper sauce and achar online and works as a caregiver to cope with the cost of living.”
Thelma Alstrom
Thelma Alstrom, a pensioner said: “As a pensioner sometimes when I finish paying the utility bills. I credit items from the shop to see me through and when I receive my pension, I pay my debts. I am a single mother of four children for years. Two of them lives with me and they are disable. I receive benefit from the government for them both. When things get tight with me, I would sell fruits that I planted in my yard to cope with the cost of living. When I’m shopping food items now, I have noticed that the money finishes quickly; sometimes I don’t get everything. I have friends who gives me clothes, so I don’t have to buy those things. I have to cope with the cost of living by buying things that I can afford. For instance, a 400 g Natura milk a few months ago cost $600; now the milk cost $640. A pound of butter a couple months ago cost $560; now a pound of butter cost $600. Even the cost for a bottle cooking oil has increased in the market. Well, the cost for pumpkin has reduce in the market. The cost for a slice of pumpkin has reduce from $1,000 and now cost $500. The government should meet more often with crop farmers and help them more with things they need for their crops, so consumers can spend less on food items.”
Bharos Persaud
Bharos Persaud said: “The cost of living is affecting me terrible because our income can’t do to run the home and our business. My wife and I run a small shop and a provision stall at our home. We live alone. The prices for certain food items have increase in the market. For example, a pack of carrots a couple months ago cost $350/ $300/$260; now a pack of carrots cost $560. A pound of chicken before cost $360; now a pound of chicken cost $560. The prices for the feed are expensive. Now a bag of chicken cost $6,500/$7000. I stopped rearing duck because the feed is costly. A bag of Wheat Bran now cost $2,400/$2,200 some place; before the Wheat Bran cost $1,000. Items like the cost for a bottle of Wesson oil has reduced a little in the markets but it is still expensive to me as it was cheaper than that. Same goes for a pound of plantains now. Some items like plantain has reduce in the market. The prices fluctuate, I don’t know what cost plantain will be selling for next Friday at the market. The government should look into these high prices rather than focusing more on building roads. Also, the government should consider reducing the eligible age for pensioners.”
