Part 80
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public at Paradise, 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
Alton Griffith
Alton Griffith said: “The cost of living is affecting my family of four really bad because the prices for items have gone up in the markets/shops. Normally when I go shop, I will see a particular item cost $120, then in two weeks’ that item will suddenly rise to $160/$180/$200. When you have to pay rent and other expenses, the cost of living is very terrible and horrible for us. We find oil the other day and now we still have to go through all of this. But, the prices for food items keep going up and prices are not coming down. The government is not doing anything about this. So, I want to know if the government does not care about the small people? Down to my rent is going up. My family and I try to cope with the cost of living. My brother and I work to provide for the home. Sometimes although we budget, we still don’t get to buy everything we need for the home because the prices for everything keeps going up. The prices for rice, sugar, oil; everything gone up. For example, a 3 litre bottle oil a couple months back cost $1,200; now the oil cost $1,800. I think you just have to cope with the cost of living despite prices for items going up every day.”