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.”