Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Bareroot, 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
Cordell James, a 47-year-old single parent said: “Foreigners [get paid] ten times more than what they paying Guyanese. I have witness this at ExxonMobil. Guyanese who are qualified are not being paid like how the foreigners are being paid…The cost of living is hard because the light bill alone does kill you. Water rate them ah beat you like a eel. What we gon do? Cost of living isn’t making no difference in this country, no matter how right you right. The cost of living is hard. It is hard to get a permanent job in this country. If you do get a job in this country, your salary might reach $80,000/$90,000. Most work I see available is arm guard and security work. As a certified electrician/refrigeration technician, you have to know people to get certain work; if you don’t know people, you can’t get the work.