Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Uitvlugt, West 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
Seeta Washington
Seeta Washington, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is hard for my son because the cost for everything in the market is expensive. I’m a family of five, including my two grandsons, my son and daughter-in-law. I receive my monthly pension and both my son and daughter-in-law work. At the end of the month, we have to pay rent, then the utility bill and then buy groceries. So, the cost of living is hard on us. Everything gone up in the market. Although the cost of living is hard, whatever money we have we try to cope with the cost of living. I normally try to stretch my pension so it can last throughout the month. I have a cholesterol problem, so I try to keep money to buy items I can eat every month. Well, the prices for fruits have gone up. For example, a pound of apple bananas a couple months back cost about $160; now I’m purchasing $200 a pound for the bananas. A small pineapple now cost $700; before the same pineapple cost $500. I saw that the prices for some vegetables have reduced in the market, such as boulanger, poi leaves, among others. Even the cost for a 10kg cylinder cooking gas has increased. The government should look into the rising cost of living.”