Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in several areas in Linden, Region Ten about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Walter Cornelius
Walter Cornelius, a 63-year-old of Rainbow City said: “The cost of living is tough on my family of three. The salary is not enough to buy food items because the prices for all food items have gone up in the markets. I usually work part-time to help my cousin and brother with the bill. They work as well. When we finished paying our utility bills and buying food items, we don’t have any money left to get by. For example, a 10 kg rice a couple month’s ago cost $1,600; now the same bag of rice cost $2,800. Before a 10 lb flour cost $500 and something; now the flour cost $1,280. The cost for everything increasing continuously in the market, we just have to cope with the rising cost of living.”
Verona Peters
Verona Peters of Amelia’s Ward said: “Well, the cost of living is serious because right now I’m in a problem and the cost for things are expensive in the market. My husband has a stroke, so he can’t work at the moment. I’m a housewife. The amount of money I pay for transportation to carry him to Georgetown for treatment and to bring him home is expensive to keep up with. The children tried to support us in any way they can but the jobs my children do, the salary is not sufficient to give $30,000. The cost of living is really rough on me. I used to collect public assistance for two grandchildren, now I’m collecting public assistance for only one child. I have three grandchildren living with me. I usually have to make do with the money I have… when I go and buy items from the market which comes up to like $20,000, the public assistance can barely do to cover that cost. My husband who drives bus for a living is not working for two months now and our savings have run out. We just have to trust God to get by. For example, I used to buy a 10 kg Karibee rice for $2,000; now the bag of rice cost $2,300. Before a pound of chicken cost $400 and something; now a pound of chicken cost $600 and something. Even the cost for a medium size bottle oil gone up. I don’t know what the government can do about the high cost because when the prices for food items go up, it drops and then it rises again and then the prices for items go up back and stay there. This includes transportation cost. I have plans to sell greens that I’m currently planting in my backyard but I would like if the government can assist me with equipment to plough the land, pesticides and material to build a fence to keep animals out from my backyard where I plant.”
Cheryl Blount
Cheryl Blount, a 53-year-old West Watooka resident said: “The cost of living is affecting me because we do not have enough money to buy food items. I’m a single mother to one son. I sell dhal puri, pine tarts and other pastries in the Wismar Municipal Market. Many days, I come to work and would sell a drink or two and carry home dhal puri, pine tarts, patties because people do not have money to buy these things. Also, the prices for food items have gone up in the markets. People don’t usually come much in this market but go to the Mackenzie Market. For example, a couple months back a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $2,000; now the rice cost $2,400. A pound of sugar cost about $80/$60 before; now a pound of sugar cost $240/$220. I would like the government to assist me with some kind of cash grant to help with my business.”
Loraine Simmons
Loraine Simmons, a 40-year-old of West Watooka said: “The cost for everything gone up in the markets, including greens. The cost of living is hard because I’m a single mother of five children and the prices for food items have increased in the markets. I have four children living with me and attending school. I run a food snackette in the Wismar Market to take care of my children. Before I could have taken $500 and buy something for my kids to eat and drink but now, I can’t do that. Everything expensive. Now, I have to spend over $2,000 for them to eat and drink. For example, vendors going in Georgetown and purchasing a pound of ochro for $60 and then selling a pound of ochro in Linden for $360/400 now; a pound of ochro up here before cost $120. A few months back, 10 mints cost $100; now five mints cost $100.To me, when I see an item cost $360 in the supermarket and I take it up to the counter, the cost increases when VAT is added. I think the government should reduce VAT on all items to help with the high cost. I also would like the government to help me with some kind of grant to push my food business.”
Yvonne Bryan
Yvonne Bryan, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot. I try to go along with it. When something is bad, you have to find a way to work with it. The cost of living is affecting my vegetable business because the consumers don’t have enough money to buy vegetables. I’m a family of four and each of us work and provide for the home. I’m also a pensioner. If you can’t provide three meals, you have to cut the meals down to two. For example, a few months ago, a pound of cabbage cost $300 and something: now a pound of cabbage cost $500. A pound of tomatoes a couple months back cost $300; now a pound of tomatoes cost $700. Before a pound of plantains cost $150; now a pound of plantain cost $300. Even the prices for a 10 kg Karibee rice and milk have gone up in the markets. The government should at least have a suggested price to control the way people sell their food items.”
Loretta Daniels
Loretta Daniels said: “The cost of living is hard for me. The Wismar Market have more sellers than buyers. What made it worse is that the teachers are not working; we the parents have more problems. Right about now my head is hurting because I have to worry to make money to throw box and I’m not making the money. Also, I have to get money to buy food items to provide for my children and I’m not making it. I’m a family of four persons, including my husband and my two sons. My husband cannot do any strenuous work now because he was hospitalized due to a serious accident. So it’s just my two sons and I are working at the moment. It is very hard on me because the cost for everything has increased in the markets. The prices for flour, sugar, rice, oil, butter and milk have gone up in the markets. If you go to the greens section, the prices for the items have gone up as well. A couple months ago, a pound of beef cost $500; now a pound of beef cost $800. Ten pounds of sugar before cost $2,000; now the same 10 lb sugar cost $4,000. I think the government can do better than what they are doing by making things easier and better for us because the country is producing oil now.”
Shaundell Chapman
Shaundell Chapman, a 46-year-old of Amelia’s Ward said: “I have to spend more money that I don’t have on food items. What are you going to do? You have to cope with the high cost of living. I’m a family of five and my husband and I are the only ones working to provide for the home. I’m a clothes vendor. We have the internet bill to pay. We do not be home whole day to use the internet but we still have to pay the bill. I have to buy less and make do with the items I have in my home. The prices for greens are going up and down in the market, it’s not stable. Everybody in the markets have a different price for their items. For example, a couple months back a pound of chicken cost $400; now a pound of chicken cost $500. Every time I go to the shop, the cost for something always increasing. Before a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $1,900; now the rice cost $2,400. The government have to find ways to stabilize the cost for food items. The government could look into how the people can get to buy the good at a cheaper price so they can resell it at a reasonable cost. Then on the other hand, some vendors would purposely raise the prices for their good even though they purchase it at a cheaper cost.”
Lloyd Valladares
Lloyd Valladares, a 72-year-old of Amelia’s Ward said: ‘The cost of living is high, I think the sellers buy their things at a certain price and they can come and sell it reasonable to us. My wife and I are the only persons working in the home to pay the bills and buy food items. I’m a construction worker. I’m a family of five. Vendors don’t sell their goods at a cheaper price even though they purchase the items at a cheaper cost. This is so because at the Wismar Market in Linden here, a pound of ochro cost $360/$300 sometimes. When I go across the river to Mackenzie, I get a pound of ochro for $260; before a pound of ochro cost $100/$120. A pound of beef now cost $800; before a pound of beef cost $600. The government should look into ways to reduce the cost of living.”
Antonette DeJonge
Antonette DeJonge of Wisroc New Scheme said: “The cost of living is very hard because a pound pack Natura milk that I usually buy for $400; now cost $700/$900. This is the same for a pack of Fernleaf milk. Prices increases a lot and then there are people who are on the road trying to make a living because there are no jobs available. Another item that gone up is eggs. Before a tray of eggs cost $1,400; now a tray of eggs cost $1,800/$1,700. Last month a tray of eggs was a little expensive compared to now. I’m a family of five and all of us are working in order to pay the bills. I still find that the prices for items are expensive because before I could have gone into a supermarket with $10,000 and would get a cart full of goods. Now, I’m going into the supermarket with the same money and coming out with a basket of goods. I think it depends on the mindset of people because people can create jobs for themselves. It has people who are knitting that can make money on that skill whilst improving themselves and at the same time being able to cope with the cost of living with other creative skills they possess.”
Stanton King
Stanton King, a pensioner of Silvertown said: “The cost of living is affecting me terrible as a pensioner. When I draw my pension, if I don’t control myself when I go and shop items, the money will finish the second week. I try with my farming to cope with the cost of living. Well, we have flooding at the moment. I’m living alone and when my family visit me sometimes, they would help me in any way they can. I can’t get to eat like how I used to before, so the cost of living is affecting me a lot. For example, a couple months back one lemon cost $150; now one lemon cost $300. The prices for fruits and vegetables are expensive now. Before one carrot cost $160; now a carrot cost $800. The cost for things is very expensive now. The government should increase people’s salary and old age pension to help with the cost of living.”
