Part 89
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Dageraad, Mocha and Queenstown on the Essequibo Coast about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Rudolph Ramsingh, 56-year-old unemployed resident of Dageraad said: “Right now the cost of living is very high and I’m not working anywhere at the moment because I am sick. I’m just using my savings. I have to run the home and look after myself. My brother does farm so he brings some greens for me to help me out. I’m living alone. The prices for grocery in the shop now are costly. If you go today to buy food items, it will be one price when you go back the next day, the cost for the items increased by $20 and $60. The cost of living is going up. I try with the little grocery I have so I can eat. For example, a pound of sugar a couple months back cost $150; now a pound of sugar cost $300. Also, a 10 kg bag Karibee rice a couple months back cost $2,000; now the rice cost $2,200. I won’t blame the government for the high prices for greens that are sold in the market but other grocery items that are sold in the shops, I believe the government should place price control on those items to help with the cost of living.”
Sunita Azeeza
Sunita Azeeza, a 56-year-old housewife of Dageraad said: “Everybody feeling it rough with the high cost of living. The cost of living is affecting my family and I, but what you gon do? You just have to try with the cost of living. My daughter and husband work to provide for the home. I’m a family of five including my two grandchildren. I try to cope with the money that comes in the home. When I received it, I pay the utility bills, buy groceries and so. I try to budget when spending. For example, a few months ago a small Thunderbolt flour cost $360; now the flour cost $500. A couple months back, a pound of sugar cost $100; now the sugar cost $240. We have to try to cope with the cost of living.”
Sherran Camacho
Sherran Camacho, a 61-year-old housewife of Dageraad said: “The cost of living is real high when buying grocery from the market/shop. I’m a family of four inclusive of my two grandchildren. My husband does farm in the backdam and then sell his produce to people in the market. He’s the only one working and also, he’s a pensioner. From the monthly pension we pay the bills and what is left we buy grocery items. We also use the income from the vegetables to run the home. I hardly buy vegetables so I’m feeling the cost mostly on other grocery items. For example, a couple months back a 10 kg bag white rice cost $1,800; now the rice cost $2,200. Also, a few months ago, a pound of sugar cost $200; now the sugar cost $300. The government should place price control on all food items.”
Sancharie Singh
Sancharie Singh, a 44-year-old house wife of Dageraad said: “The cost of living is affecting everyone a lot. People are not getting work but the cost for items going up high. I live with my husband, daughter-in-law and son. Both my son and husband work to maintain us. What ever money they bring in, I try to cope with the cost of living. I have a kitchen garden but still whatever I don’t have in my garden I buy from the market. Everything gone up in the markets/supermarket. For example, a couple months back, a small pack of Demerara Gold sugar cost $300; now the sugar cost $500/$600 and something. A 10 kg Karibee rice a couple months back cost $2,200; now the rice cost $3,000. We just have to cope with the rising cost of living.”
Wahedia Budhoo
Wahedia Budhoo, a 20-year-old single mother of Dageraad said: “Things are sold really expensive at the shops/market and this affects me because the cost for all items have increased. I’m a single mother of two children. I receive public assistance for one of my children and as I’m renting a home, my family help me pay the rent and the utility bills. Whatever way they can help me, they do. I try to cope with the cost of living when I’m buying grocery items. For example, a few months ago a pound of garlic cost $400 and something; now the garlic cost $900 a pound. A couple months ago a big pack Fernleaf milk cost $600; now the milk cost $900. Even a pound of plantain gone up now. I think the cost for food items should be reduced to help with the cost of living.”
Thomas Richard
Thomas Richard, a pensioner of Mocha said: “Well as per normal, like everybody would say, the cost for everything going up at the shops/markets and it not coming down. The cost for items keeps rising by $40 all the time and not coming down back. I’m a family of three including my wife and father-in-law. My wife does her side hustle to help out in the home. For example, couple months back a pound of sugar cost $180; now the sugar cost $300. Also, a 10 kg Karibee rice a couple months back cost $2,700; now the rice cost $3,700. The government should help poor people more with some money to buy food items.”
Luciani Abrams
Luciani Abrams, NIS pensioner and resident of Mocha said: “The cost of living is so expensive because the little money I get can’t do to buy what I want to buy for the home. I’m a family of four inclusive of my three son. I receive NIS pension while my big son works. Whenever my son gets money, he gives me for the home. I usually try with my NIS pension. For example, a couple months ago, a pound of sugar cost $180; now the sugar cost $200. A Bakewell slice bread a couple months ago cost $200 and something; now the bread cost $380. Whenever I go different places to buy grocery items, I find the prices differs. Sometimes it is cheaper or more expensive at different places. I don’t know what can be done to carry down these high prices for food items. We can’t blame the government.”
Arnold Glasgow
Arnold Glasgow, a pensioner of Mocha said: “The cost of living is not really affecting me because I’m trying to cope with it using my pension but it is affecting other people. The cost of living is high because I know people’s salary and pension is not enough to buy food items now. I feel it for those people. The cost of living is really affecting people. The cost for items gone up in America also. I find that the cost for items up here more expensive compared to Georgetown. For example, in Georgetown I’m buying 5 cucumbers for $100; up here I bought one cucumber for $150. In town I could buy more butter fish for my money; now I’m buying four butter fish for $2,000. Even the cost for a tile paste up here expensive. I think the government should place price control on food items to help with the cost of living.”
Yvonne Duncan
Yvonne Duncan , a pensioner of Mocha said: “My grandsons are not getting jobs and the cost of living is very high. My son is the only person working to help out in the home. I’m a family of eight, including my four grandsons, my sister, my son and mother. The rest of us receive pension except my grandsons. We try to pay the utility bills and buy groceries with the money we get. My son is paying on a loan so I try not to pressure him a lot. The cost for everything gone up at shops/markets. For example, a 10 kg Karibee rice a couple months ago cost $1,900/$1,800; now the rice cost $2,200. Also, a pound of sugar a couple months ago cost $80/90; now the sugar cost $120/$140 a pound. I try with the little kitchen garden I have. I think people should plant more vegetables to cope with the cost of living. Also, the backdam should extend more so young people can grow more things like rice.”
Nigel
Nigel, a security officer of Mocha said: “The cost of living is hard because the money that you working for cannot do to buy the items at the shop. Apart from working as a security officer, I do a side hustle just to cope with the cost of living. Then my wife works in the home to help provide for both of us. Right now parts for bicycles are expensive; everything gone up at the shop. For example, a 2 kg Demerara Gold a couple months back cost $600 and something; now the sugar cost $800. Also, a big pack of Natura milk before cost $500 and something; now the milk cost $700 and something. The government should increase people’s salary more. If the private companies can increase salary that will be good as well.”
