Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Free and Easy, Essequibo Coast in Region Two about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Hubert Sukhai, a 36-year-old construction worker said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot because the little money I’m working for goes to groceries, nothing more. More than 10 person live in the home and we put our money together to pay the utility bills but we buy individual groceries for our family. I take care of my wife and daughter. The cost of living is high. For example, a couple months back, a bag of rice cost $1,400/$1,600; now the rice cost $2,200. Also, a few months back, a small bottle oil cost $100 and something; now the oil cost $300 and something. The government should consider raising construction workers’ pay because at the end of the week, the money is not sufficient to maintain our family. I think the government should speak to the contractor to increase workers’ wages because our work is high risk.”
Pearlie Harvey
Pearlie Harvey, a single parent said: “Being a single parent to two children who is going to school is rough and, the distance from where we are living to the main road, everything in the shops in here is expensive. I recently had a surgery done so I’m not working at the moment. I get help from my sister to provide for my children until I can resume work. For example, a couple months back, a small pack Natura milk cost $600; now the cost for the same pack of milk is $800. In front of Free and Easy I would purchase the milk for $460 now. A one litre bottle oil a couple months back cost $400 and something; now the oil cost $860. So, the cost of living is really high for my family and I. The government should consider reducing the cost for food items more.”
Hubert Lord
Hubert Lord, a pensioner/farmer said: “The prices for food items are not stable. I try to cope with the high cost of living by planting provisions and selling some to the village while I cook some for my family of four, including my two sons and wife. I’m having trouble with getting the market for my cassava because I have some cassava in the backdam and I don’t have the market for them. I reap both plantains and cassava. My two sons that work help me pay the utility bills and buy groceries. For example, a couple months back, a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $2,000; now the rice cost $2,600. A couple months back, a big pack Natura milk cost $900; now the milk cost $1,200. Another thing is when I’m purchasing sugar, I’m not getting the quality of sugar I used to buy before and a pound of sugar is expensive now. I noticed that when the government increase salary, the business people increase their prices for food items. I suggest the government place price control on food items to help with the rising cost of living.”
Sherrian Harris, a 30-year-old housewife said: “Things are expensive in the market and shops in here. I’m a family of four including my two sons and husband. My husband is in the bush at the moment working to provide for my family. He’s a farmer. Because of the cost of living being so high, some days I won’t be able to provide for my children, so my mother would give me $5,000 to buy snacks for the children but that might finish because every day I have to find things to pack my children lunch kits. For example, a couple months back a 10 kg rice cost $1,900; now the rice cost $2,500. Also, a few months ago a pound of sugar cost $100; now the sugar cost $200. The government should reduce the cost for food items more because most people can’t afford to buy food items at the cost in the shops/markets.”
Keny Greene
Keny Greene, a 54-year-old farmer said: “I sat and study the cost of living for years and now I am preparing to cope with the cost of living and because of that the cost of living is not affecting me much. Generally, the cost of living is affecting everybody tremendously. I do several businesses to cope with the cost of living. I rear chicken, I am an apiculturist and I have a farm. I produce things and supply to various parts in Guyana. I’m a family of four, inclusive of my wife and three children. The cost for food items in general is high. For example, a few months back, a 10 kg bag rice cost $2,600; now the rice cost $2,800. Also, a couple months back, two pounds sugar cost $400 and something; now the sugar cost $800. My plan is, if I was in the administration, the rigs that we have delivering oil for us, the government should ensure that the revenue from one rig is contributed just to help people with the high cost of living.”
Camille Bacchus, a 53-year-old government part time worker said: “The prices for food items is increasing every week. Every week you go in the supermarkets, the prices for food items raising. Whenever I get money, I have to try budget to buy things I need for the home, then I can save. Because I have light and water bills to pay, then children to send to school. I live with my extended family. Together we pool our money to pay the utility bills but we provide for our individual family separately. My husband and I support each other financially to buy groceries for the home. I’m a 10-day part-time government worker. For example, a couple months back a large bag of rice cost $7,200; now the rice cost $10,200. Before a big pack sugar cost $800 and something; now the sugar cost $1,700. I think the government should consider reducing the grocery items more to help people with the high cost of living.”
Gowmattie Bacchus, a 35-year-old government worker said: “The cost of living is high because the money you are working for can’t maintain my family and I. When I finish paying water bill, the internet bill and other expenses, I don’t have any extra money left back to save; everything is spent on bills and groceries. I’m a family of five including, my husband, daughter, mother-in-law, niece and I. My husband and I work to maintain the home. I’m a 10-day worker at a health centre. For example, a few months ago, a medium bottle oil cost $1,100 and something; now the oil cost $1700/$1,900. A few months ago, a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $1,900; now the rice cost $2,700. I don’t know what could be done about the high cost of living but the government should look into the high cost of living and see how the prices for groceries items can be reduced in the supermarkets at least. Some people can cope with the cost of living but some people cannot cope. Sometimes the money can’t do to maintain my own family.”
Vasti Garnett, a 56-year-old farmer: “The cost of living is affecting my family and I yes because every time I go to the shop to buy something, the prices for food items changes. I do plant on a farm to cope with the cost of living. Whatever i produce from the farm like ginger, for example, I supply to people. Both my husband and I work to pay the expenses and maintain the home. Right now, because of the weather, I’m not doing so good at farming so I rely on my husband support until there is good weather. The cost for things gone up. For example, a couple months back a 10 kg bag Karibee rice cost $2,100; now the rice cost $2,400. Also, a few months ago, a small pack of Natura milk cost $760; now the milk cost $800. The government should consider reducing the tax of food items.”
Andrew Seeram, a 50-year-old construction worker said: “The cost of living is high since the prices for things are up and down in the shops/markets. The cost of living is not really affecting me because my daughter, wife and I work to provide for the home. I’m a family of six, including my father, three children and wife. Even items in the line of construction gone up. For example, a couple months back a sack of cement cost $1,800; now the cement cost $2,000. Also, a length of steel rod before cost $1,400; now the steel rod cost $1,600/ $1,700. I hope the prices for items reduce in December.”
Marcia Henry
Marcia Henry, a 27-year-old Beautician: “Well you know things going up and we are not rich. For me, the cost of living is hard and I have four kids to take care of. I do part-time wedding makeup and makeup on call and post it in the media for a living, just to take care of my children. For example, a couple months back a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $2,100; now the rice cost $2,400. Also, a small full cream milk a couple months back cost $760; now the milk cost $800. Some food produced right in our country, we end up paying more money for. I think the government should reduce the tax for food items.”
