Stabroek News spoke to members of the public at Pigeon Island, 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
Desiree Balgobin
Desiree Balgobin, a 49-year-old housewife said: “The cost of living is affecting me, yes but I’m not complaining about it because my family and I try to cope with the cost of living. You have to work, if you don’t work you can’t eat. I’m a family of seven and five of my family members work while my mother-in-law receives her monthly pension and I run the shop at home in order to pay the daily expenses. The cost of living is high, yes. For example, a couple months back a pound of garlic cost $140/$200; now the garlic cost $400/$500. A pound of potatoes a couple months back cost $80/$100; now a pound of potatoes cost $160/$180. Even the cost for a small bag Karibee rice gone up. The government should look into the high cost for items because the cost for everything at the shops/markets is high. For the longest while the cost of living is like this and to me it continues to climb.”
Lalita Budhu
Lalita Budhu, a 32-year-old housewife said: “The cost of living is high because when I go to do my grocery shopping at the supermarket, the prices for the food items are high. I’m a family of three, including my daughters that goes to school. My husband is the only one working to provide for the home. I’m trying with the cost of living. I would bear up by purchasing items that I can afford and the next time when I have the money, I buy the items I didn’t get to buy the last time. For example, a 20 lb cylinder cooking gas that last a month in my home cost $4,600 a couple months back; now the gas cost $4,900. Also, a few months ago a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $1,500; now the rice cost $2,200. The government should consider reducing the prices for food items.”
Vishal Raj
Vishal Raj said: “The cost of living is rough on my family because every day I go to the market, the prices are high, as well as the prices at the supermarket which changes every time I go shopping for grocery. I live with my mother who works to maintain the home. I used to work but right now, I’m not getting work because I had fallen sick and when I went in search of a job, it’s hard for me to get employment under my condition. The cost of living is really high; it is killing me. Whatever little money you have put up in case you pass away; you have to eat it out. The government is not really helping nobody with the high cost of living because when I go places for help, I don’t get through. My tablets, Janumet that I use to help lower blood sugar is expensive now. For example, a few months back a card of Janumet tablets cost $200; now the card cost $900. Also, a 1 litre bottle oil before cost $400; now the oil cost $800. I mean, we are producing oil now and I think the government should send GRA to local shops, markets and other places in order to investigate the prices people are selling these items for and, check to see if they are paying their taxes. I mean the government is not to be blame for high prices because there are unreasonable people out there who overdo it with the prices.”
Liloutee Mohabir, a 39-year-old housewife said: “My family and I are trying to cope with the high cost of living; my husband works and provide for me and the two children. Then we have the rent to pay, so we try to manage. Whatever little money my husband brings home, we try to make do with it to run the home and pay the expenses. Recently, I went to the market to do grocery shopping but I didn’t get to buy everything I need because I could not afford it. I just have to buy piece, piece until I get everything. The cost for everything gone up, even the greens prices high. For example, a few months back a pound of tomatoes cost $400; now a pound of tomatoes cost $1,000. Also, a 1 litre bottle oil before cost $360 in the market; now the oil cost $460 in the market. The government should try to work something out to have the prices for items reduce in the market because the items that I buy for my children are costly now.”
Ravindra Singh
Ravindra Singh said: “The cost of living is tough on my family and I because it affects us financially but we are still trying with it. I recently came out of the backdam with malaria. I’m not working at the moment. My parents are the only ones working to provide for the family and it is hard on us because my sister recently passed away and left a niece for my parents to look after. I’m a family of seven including my stepfather, mother, niece, cousin and wife along with his son and me. My cousin is not working as well cause he’s recovering from an accident he was involved in recently. My family and I are just trying to cope with the cost of living with whatever money we have. To add to that my parents are sick and so far, they stayed home one day. The cost of living is high, for example, a few months ago a 5-gallon bottle oil cost $5,000 and something; now the oil cost $7,000. Also, a bottle cooking gas before cost $4,200; now the gas cost $4,600. The government should reduce the prices for all items in order to help people with the cost of living.”
Nanram Sankar
Nanram Sankar, a 43-year-old construction worker said: “Well, the cost of living is high. One cylinder cooking gas do not last one month in my home. I’m the sole breadwinner for my family of five, including my two children. I try to manage the daily expenses whilst making sure food is in the home. Whenever I get construction work, I work. The cost of items is high but we have to cope with it. For example, a 20lb cylinder cooking gas before cost $4,300; now the gas cost $4,800. A couple months back, two pounds potatoes cost $300; now a pound of potatoes cost $600. I think the government should increase people’s salary to help with the cost of living.”
Fazila Karamullah
Fazila Karamullah, a 30-year-old poultry farmer said: “The cost of living is not really affecting me that bad because my family and I try to cope with it. However, the utility bills are challenging to pay because both the electricity and water bills come high every month. GWI see with you when paying the water bill but GPL doesn’t, we have to pay the electricity bill in full. The prices for greens and grocery items have gone up in the markets. Even the cost for pampers for the baby gone up. We purchase groceries weekly. If we had to buy monthly grocery, the money will be more. Both shops in the area and other place in Guyana, the grocery prices are high so it’s not just the shops. I’m a family of six. My mother is a pensioner, I do poultry farming to help out in paying the bills while my husband and one of my brothers work to support us. For example, a 10kg bag Karibee rice a couple months ago cost $1,700/$1,800; now the rice cost $2,000. Also, a pound of garlic before cost $120/$160; now a pound of garlic cost $400. The prices for sugar, onions and other grocery items have increased. The government should look into the high prices for items because the shop people raising their prices even though the minister on the news saying that things supposed to drop; the prices not dropping at the shop. The government should consider increasing pensioners’ monthly pension.”
Angelo Ramsammy
Angelo Ramsammy, a 24-year-old trainer said: “The cost for everything has risen at the markets/shops and my family and I had to cut back on our buying for some things to make ends meet. I’m a family of three which includes my mother, sister and I. Everyone works in the home to provide for the home. For example, a month ago a Bakewell bread cost $360; now the bread cost $420. Also, the small Breeze soap powder before cost $300/$400; now the soap powder cost $500/$600.I think the government should reduce the tax on food items and provide some sort of incentive to people in order to help with the cost of living.”
Sheed Bacchus
Sheed Bacchus, a 54-year-old construction worker said: “The cost of living is high because the cost for everything is increasing at the shops and markets. We just have to cope with it, there is nothing you can do about it. I’m a family of two, including my wife. I’m the sole breadwinner. somedays, I get construction work while some days I don’t. Well, up to now I’m not getting electricity and water, so whatever money I work for, I try to buy grocery for the home and cover other expenses. For example, a couple months back a 1 litre bottle oil cost $450; now the oil cost $600. Also, a small roti mix package flour before cost $300; now the flour cost $440. I’m trying with my kitchen garden here. We just have to find ways to cope with the cost of living. Who you are going to run to for help?”
Karran Persaud
Karran Persaud said: “The cost of living is hard because the cost for all items have become expensive in the markets; the cost for items just going up every week in the markets. You just have to try with it. I do my weeding work and security work to provide for my family. You can’t give up; you have to continue working and try with the cost of living. I’m a family of two, including my wife. For example, a 10 kg Karibee rice before cost $2,500; now the rice cost $3000 and something. A couple months ago, a pound of chicken cost $400 and something; now the chicken cost $500 and something. The government should help to reduce the prices for food items a little and to look into the high cost of living keenly because not everyone can afford to purchase food items.”
