Stabroek News spoke to members of the public at Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, 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
Regena Rodrigues
Regena Rodrigues, a pensioner said: “As a pensioner, the cost of living is hard on me because the cost for items is high and I can’t buy all the items I need. My daughter and two granddaughters live with me. My daughter and one of my granddaughters work to help with the expenses. Still, the cost for some items is high in the supermarket. For example, a couple months back a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $2,000; now the rice cost $2,300. A few months ago, a pound of garlic cost $200; now the garlic cost $300. Well, I hardly buy greens since people usually bring greens for me like bora, squash and so on. I don’t think anything could be done about the cost of living, we just have to cope with it.”
McLean, a 60-year-old security guard said: “The money I’m working for cannot do to buy half of the things I need because the items are costly. My need is essential. My wife and I sell vegetables to pay our expenses. I work as a security guard to bring in an extra income in the home. We usually cut back on our spending for certain food items we need in order to cope with the cost of living; the items that are essential for our body are costly. If we had children to maintain, I don’t know what we would have done. We are trying to buy and sell vegetables but still we are feeling the high price since the cost is high on the vegetables and other items like eddoes. For example, a few months ago a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $1,760 now the rice cost $2,250. The sellers are not putting on like a $50 or $100, they just increasing the cost higher. A tray of eggs a couple months back cost $1,000; now the eggs cost $1,400. This county has a lot of resources. I believe the government should help reduce the cost for items. The government saying it’s a global something and the freight prices are high. We have a lot of resources in this country to help with this high cost of living.”
Ramlakan Basmat
Ramlakan Basmat, a 36-year-old farmer said: “The prices for items have gone up in the shops and markets. This is affecting my family of five because recently I was trying to ask my boss to raise my salary, so I can afford to provide for my wife and three children. I’m waiting to see if he’s going to increase the wages. I’m a farmer. Right now, $5,000 can’t buy a lot of items from the shop. For example, a couple months ago, a big pack Thunderbolt flour cost $500 and something; now the flour cost $1,000. Also, a medium size oil before cost $1,000; now the oil cost $2,000. The government should assist in reducing the cost for food items.”
Uranie Stephen
Uranie Stephen, a 63-year-old said: “The cost of living is very high. We [Guyanese] are planting rice right in Essequibo and the cost for a bag of rice is expensive; it is very expensive. $20,000 is nothing now. When I go shopping with $20,000, I don’t get all the food items I need for my family. I receive survival benefits to help buy food items and pay the utility bills. My granddaughter is working and studying to provide for her sibling, her two children and I. Things are really hard on us because the cost for food items we need is high and the salary is not increasing. For example, a couple months ago a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $1,800; now the rice cost $2,200. Also, a couple months ago a tray of eggs cost $1,480; now the eggs cost $1,800. My grandson excelled at the CXC examination but he not getting jobs even though he applied. I think the government should increase people’s salary and reduce the cost for food items.”
Paulette Tucker
Paulette Tucker, a pensioner said: “As a pensioner, I live alone but still the monthly pension is not enough to buy grocery items and pay the utility bills. When I buy $5,000 worth in grocery, I don’t see what I buy because the grocery is not much. The cost for food items just going up. For example, a couple months back, a big pack milk cost $400 and something; now the milk cost $600. A couple months back, a 1 litre bottle cooking oil cost $300 and something; Now the oil cost $600. We just have to cope with the high cost of living because I can’t do anything about it.”
Julian Deane
Julian Deane, a 47-year-old labourer said: “The cost of living right now is rough on my family of seven which includes my five children and wife. My children go to school while I’m the sole breadwinner. My salary is not enough to maintain them. I cut wood for a living and if anyone has any daywork, I would take it. The things that I feel the most is the transportation cost to send my children to school every day. Every day I have to find $3,000 to send my children to school. They carry lunch to school. The cost for grocery gone up. For example, a couple months ago a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $2,200; now the rice cost $2,700. Also, a couple months ago, a parcel bora cost $100; now the bora cost $200/$300. The cost of living is getting higher every day. I usually plant vegetables but the dry weather killing the plant. I think we should cope with the cost of living.”
Paula Mendas
Paula Mendas, a 40-year-old part-time worker said: “I don’t visit the supermarket much but whenever I go, the prices change for food items. It is difficult to keep up with the prices for items sold in the supermarket because the cost for everything has increased. Before I could have pick up more grocery for $40,000. Apart from being a stay-home mother, I work part time to offset certain expenses in the home. My husband works full time. I’m a family of four inclusive of my two kids. For example, a large Fernleaf milk a couple months ago cost $600; now the milk cost $800/ $1,000 at some places. You have to stick with your budget to cope with the cost of living. It’s like we barely making ends meet. The cost for greens all going up and the quality that you are getting are not like before when I used to buy greens, probably it’s the weather. We are thinking to restart our kitchen garden to offset some more expenses. The government should bring awareness to this community more in relation to setting up a small business.”
Shemroy Hollingsworth
Shemroy Hollingsworth, aa 33-year-old mason said:” The cost of living is affecting my family and I a lot because when we purchase items from the shop, the cost for the items is expensive. I’m a family of five including, my wife and three children. I’m the sole breadwinner for my family. We try to cope with the cost of living by budgeting the money when I receive it in order to buy grocery items whilst covering other expenses. For example, a few months ago, a 20 lbs cylinder cooking gas cost $4,800; now the gas cost $5,000. Also, a couple months back a pound of chicken cost $500; now the chicken cost $600. The government need to reduce the tax on food items.”
Roy Missigher
Roy Missigher, a 59-year-old security guard said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot because when I’m working the employer is not paying me like he should. It’s hard when you have to pay the utility bills and buy grocery items. I’m a family of six including my wife and children. All of us working to cover the daily expenses but still we are feeling the high cost since the cost for everything has gone up in the markets. I rear some chicken for my family use to help with the cost of living. Things are expensive. For example, before a big bag rice cost $7,000; now the rice cost $9,000. Also, before a 25 lbs flour cost $3,000 and something; now the flour cost $4,000 and something. The government should consider raising people’s salary.”
Mary Gouveia
Mary Gouveia, a 56-year-old housewife said: “The cost of living is terrible. When I go to the market to purchase grocery items, the cost for the items is too costly. My husband is the sole provider for my granddaughter and I. We try with the high cost of living; the cost of living is high and the salary is not anything much. For example, a couple months back, a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $2,100; now the rice cost $2,300. Also, a couple months back a 2 lbs sugar cost $200; now the same sugar cost $700. The government should look into the high cost for food items.”
