Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Nooten Zuil, 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
Tulsiram Mohandus
Tulsiram Mohandus, a 36-year-old self-employed man said: “Everybody knows the cost of living going up every day but the cost for items is not going down. And when the cost for something goes up, it doesn’t come down back. The cost of living is affecting my mother and I because the body work I do, I earn the same amount of money everyday as the cost for things keeps going up every day making it impossible for me to save. Both my mom and I work to help with the daily expenses such as: paying the utility bills and buying groceries. For example, recently I purchased a 10 kg Karibee rice for my mom at the supermarket. I paid $2,300 in that week; when I returned to the store the next week, the bag of rice now cost $2,700. Also, a couple weeks back a 2-litre bottle drink cost $520 at some shops in the area; now the same drink cost $580 at some shops. Sometimes some of the shop owners overdo it with the cost because it is not necessary for them to raise the cost so much but still they do. If you go to the supermarket in the area, you will get the items at a cheaper cost. The government should look into how the shops/small businesses price their items for resale.”
Navita Ramnarine
Navita Ramnarine, a 29-year-old vendor said: “The cost of living is really hard sometimes for me because I have a son and sometimes, I have to pay the transportation cost for him to go to school then I have to buy things he needs for school. Also, I have to buy grocery items and pay bills. The cost for grocery is high a little but my husband and I try to cope with the high cost. I sell egg balls and other items on the road while my husband does carpentry work for a living. We both join our money together to cover the daily expenses. For example, a few months back, the cost for a big bag sugar from the supermarket in our area cost $12,000/$13,000; now the sugar cost $15,000. A couple months back a 10 kg bag Karibee rice cost $2,200; now the rice cost $2,700. I don’t know how the cost of living can be reduced but I think we should try to cope with it.”
Abdool Khan
Abdool Khan, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is terrible because it affects everyone a lot, not just me. The pension we are receiving is not sufficient to cover our daily expenses. The cost for food items is high. We have to cope somehow with the high cost of living. Millions of dollars going into the Ministry of Health but still I have to buy tablets outside which is costly. Panadol and other cheap medications the hospital have in stock but they do not have the ones that are costly. My wife and I received a subsidy of $30,000 on light bill, so we get a little ease there. Not to mention, I also receive $700 subsidy on my water. But I’m dissatisfied about my NIS because while I was working, I reached my contribution; I over-contributed as well and now I’m just receiving a grant form NIS because NIS said I don’t have enough contributions. I will soon take legal action to get some answers and satisfaction for my outstanding NIS contributions. The cost of living is so high that the pension and the grant that I received is not sufficient to take care of my wife, even though my wife receives her pension. The money combined cannot do to cover our daily expenses. We can’t even save. The cost for groceries are expensive. For example, a couple months back a pound of chicken cost $300 and something; now the chicken cost $500. And, a couple months back four boulanger cost $500; recently the same boulanger cost $1,000. The cost for a pound eschalots and celery gone up as well. The government should consider subsiding on certain food items or help the people with some sort of money because the cost for food items is high.”
Evadney Kissoon
Evadney Kissoon, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is high. I have to pay about $7,000 to weed my yard. The weeder is now saying they have to spray people’s yard;they are not weeding the yard. When I receive my pension, the money finishes fast because when I finished covering my daily expenses, I’m left with nothing to save. I don’t get any support from my family. I have to pay the light, water, phone and internet bills. Also, I take care of the groceries and medication expenses myself. The cost for everything gone up. For example, two months ago a pack of chowmein cost $260 in the market; now the pack of chowmein cost $360 in the supermarket. Also, a couple months back a pound pack Natura milk cost $800; now the milk cost $900. The government should continue to work towards reducing the cost of living.”
Makhan Parsooram
Makhan Parsooram, a 58-year-old bus driver said: “The cost of living is high, yes but if you are working the cost of living will not affect you. My wife and I live alone. I’m the only one working to cover the expense around the home. I don’t get any big bills to pay. What I can say is the cost for items gone up a lot but we have to cope with it. For example, before a pair of brake pads cost $2,300; now the brake pads cost $5,000. Also, a few months back a 10 kg bag Karibee rice cost $1,700/$1,600; now the rice cost $2,900. The only thing I can think of that will help people with the cost of living is for the government to increase people’s salary.”
Ann Kissoon
Ann Kissoon, a 46-year-old widow said: “The cost of living is hard for me when buying food stuff and then I’m not getting work and so sometimes. What you are going to do about it? The cost for everything gone up. My husband died so it’s just me working part-time domestic work and my son who works as well to maintain the home. The other son goes to school. Most of the time I can’t afford to buy food items because the cost for the items gone up. Then, I have to pay the utility bills. I can’t even save. To me, like the cost for everything raise including the greens I buy. For example, a few months back a 10 kg bag rice cost $1,800; now the rice cost $2,700. Also, a couple months back a pound of eschalot cost $300; now the eschalot cost $600. I’m glad to get help from the government to maintain the bills because it is hard to get a full-time job now, especially since I’m not well educated. I recently applied for public assistance for my son so I’m waiting for the help.”
Besham Nandan
Besham Nandan, a 56-year-old security worker said: “The cost for everything is getting expensive and people’s salary is not increasing. I live by myself while my brother and his family live separately from me. My brother helps me out to pay the utility bills. Sometimes I have to go see the doctor two to three times a week and to add to that I would have to purchase some of my medications which is costly. I applied for public assistance three times but still I didn’t get through. I don’t work for a lot of money. For example, three weeks ago a 10 kg bag Karibee rice cost $2,200; now the rice cost $2,800. Last month a 1 kg pack Demerara Gold sugar cost $350; now the sugar cost $600. Every business has a different price for food items. I think the government should place price control on food items.”
Indira Kissoon
Indira Kissoon, a 43-year-old part-time domestic worker said: “The cost of living is hard because I have seven children and my husband about two months now, went away and left me because we had an argument. Five of my children going to school while two finished school and are home searching for a job. I get one, one part-time domestic work and from those earnings, I use to send my children to school. Before I could have used $20,000 to buy a lot of groceries but now, I can’t do that since the cost for everything gone up in the market and supermarket. I used to get public assistance for two of my children but now I’m no longer getting that. I reapplied and is currently waiting to see if I get through in December. I live in a squatting area and I don’t have light and water so I’m glad for the help. Things gone up in the markets. For example, a couple months ago a pound of sugar cost $160; now the sugar cost $200. Also, before a pound of flour cost $240; now the flour cost $300. A couple months back, I used to buy a 10 kg bag rice for $1,200; now the rice cost $2,800 a bag. With the little oil money the government getting, I think the government should reduce the cost for grocery items and items like the kerosene but the government hasn’t drop anything instead the cost for everything is high.”
Sabita Ramarine
Sabita Ramarine, a 41-year-old housewife said: “The cost of living is hard because when my husband doesn’t work, sometimes it can be difficult financially to send my children to school. I have four kids. My husband does carpentry work. I try to budget to buy grocery items; it can be hard though. When my husband receives his wages, I try to buy groceries and keep it. For example, a couple months back, a 10 kg bag rice cost $1800/$2,000; now the rice cost $2,700 and something. Also, a couple months back a pound of sugar cost $100; now the sugar cost $200. The government do try with the cost of living but I think that something more should be done about it.”
Savitri Singh
Savitri Singh, a 50-year-old housewife said: “The cost of living is hard because the cost for everything has risen in the supermarket and markets. I’m a family of four, inclusive of my husband and two children. My husband and daughter work in the home. My husband doesn’t have a steady work, sometimes he’s at home two or three months but I try with the money I receive from my husband to run the home because even though my daughter is working, I leave her to put the money towards her studies. The cost for everything gone up in the market including greens. For example, a couple months ago three boulanger cost $200; now that same three boulanger cost $500. Before, the cost for cooking gas cost $4,600; now the gas cost $4,800. We should try to cope with the cost of living.”
