Part 99
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Pearl, East Bank Demerara about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Odacia Stephenson
Odacia Stephenson, a 22-year-old teacher said: “The cost of living is high and it is affecting my colleagues, family and I a lot. My colleagues and I from work recently went and shop some items for the daycare and so. The bill is very high because every now and then we have to get stuff, especially haberdashery for the daycare. This is affecting my family and I also because at times, you have to get two or three jobs in order to get the things sorted out. When you have kids, the demands are very high whether you are sending them private or public schools. I’m a family of seven, including my husband and five children who are at school. So, you could imagine how the cost of living is affecting me and family. Both my husband and I work to provide for our kids, pay the bills and buy grocery items. We do budget to cope with the cost of living. Sometimes the budget is tight because when you add lesson fees and add all the activities that school includes, even though it’s a government school, the bill comes up high.
Then you have to find breakfast, snack and dinner for them. The cost for rice and sugar gone up. For example, before a pound of sugar cost $100 and something; now the sugar cost $240 a pound. Recently, we at the daycare learnt the sugar price gone up more. The rice, before a 10 kg bag rice cost $2,000; now the rice cost $2,600. Even the cost for bleach, bora, cabbage, chicken gone up. It depends on where you buy. I have a kitchen garden that helps with the cost of living. I think the government should look into the prices of our locally grown produce versus that of the items imported from Brazil. The cost for our locally grown produce is far more expensive than the imported ones coming out from Brazil. Also, the government should reach out to the children who are less fortunate to help every mother with something, especially children who have one parent to look after them. Even if it’s a hamper, a bag of rice; something and help them discreetly. “
Hardai Persaud
Hardai Persaud, a 63-year-old said: “The cost of living is high all over the world. The bible said we will get this in the last days. So, what you gon do about it? I live alone. My sister now and then send money for me to buy food items and pay the utility bills. My son also helps me financially to cope with the high cost of living. Also, I rear goat and chicken for a little income but for the longest while, I haven’t gotten any income from the goat and chicken. I just occupied my time with them instead. To me, every time I go to buy something from the shop, the cost for the items increases. I don’t work anywhere. For example, a couple months ago, a 10 kg Karibee white rice cost $1,500; now the rice cost $2,400. Also, a few weeks back, 2lbs of plantain cost $300; now the plantains cost $500. I think the government can help the people financially with the cost of living. As such, the government should consider giving the people $1 million each.”
Viji Dhanram
Viji Dhanram, a 57-year-old housewife said: “My husband works at the sawmill and I have two grandchildren I take care of. I don’t work anywhere; I take care of them instead. So, things are really tough on me. My husband and daughter work. I’m a family of five including my two grandchildren. I cope somehow with the cost of living by buying little by little then I pay the utility bills. Then there are the two children I need to take care of. I have it tough because my family and I can’t eat the right food. We have to accept and bless. What are you going to do? We can’t go and beg; we have to work for what we want. For example, a few months back a 10kg Karibee rice cost $1,800/$2,200; now the rice cost $2,800. The cost for milk has increased in the market. A couple months back, a big pack Natura milk cost $700 and something; now the milk cost $900/$1,100 and something. We just have to cope with the cost of living.”
Ramlake Persaud
Ramlake Persaud, a 69-year-old said: “The cost for items is costly in the shop and the money is not enough. For example, a couple months ago a big tin Milo cost $800; now the Milo cost $1,088. The cost for all items gone up such as: Colgate, soap and so. A medium toothpaste a couple months back cost $300 and something; now the toothpaste cost almost $400 and almost $500 and something. The cost of living is affecting everyone. I live alone and I support my daughter financially. Even the cost for bread gone up in the market. I rely on my pension to support both my daughter and I. The government should consider controlling the food items.”
Tyreece Boston
Tyreece Boston, a ramp agent said: “I reside in America and I found that the cost of living is high over there because of high taxes. I found that the items in Guyana is a little cheaper compared to the American cost for food. Over here, the cost for fast food is high, yes but not to how the prices are overseas. I’m on vacation in Guyana, and my relatives and I try to conserve on the main meal to make ends meet until we can afford to purchase certain food items. For example, before a 10 pounds cylinder cooking gas cost $2500 in Guyana; now the gas cost $3,500. Also, 2 or 3 cucumbers before cost $200; now I get 2or 3 cucumbers for $500 depending on the weight. The government should consider reducing the prices for certain groceries.”
Cedric Doston
Cedric Doston, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is not directly affecting me because I cope with it by using the greens and fruits I have in my kitchen garden, and the monthly pension I receive. I have to cope with the cost of living. I do find that the items that I purchased to use gone up like fish and greens. I only buy one and two greens sometimes. For example, a few months ago, a slice of pumpkin cost $300; now the same slice of pumpkin cost $500. The cost of living has gone up not only on greens but on the cost when travelling. Even the cost toward medical expense has gone up. I try not to let the cost of living bother me; I try to cope with it. I don’t know how the cost of living can be reduced because if you visit farmers, you will see how much they have to pay for to produce rice, for example.”
Anaster Austin
Anaster Austin, a 29-year-old self-employed said: “The cost of living is high because everything is raising in the markets and shops. I provide catering services and from time to time I will have to raise prices on stuff and customers would be like, don’t worry with it when they already place the order. I’m a family of six including my two children, my husband, husband’s grandmother and grandfather. I’m running my own catering business while my husband and his grandfather work to help provide for the home and pay the bills. For example, before a 20lb bag flour cost $2,200; now the flour cost $2,800. Also, a couple months back, a 10lb cylinder cooking gas cost $3,700; now the gas cost $4,700. I think the $100,000 come January that every individual 18 years and over will benefit, is reasonable. I think the government should drop some food prices to help with the cost of living. “
Keith Long
Keith Long, a 54-year-old construction worker said: “The cost of living is affecting me in a variety of ways because all the prices have risen; food, transportation, rent, greens prices have risen also. For instance, a couple days ago, a pound of plantain cost $200; now a pound of plantain cost $300. Also, a couple months back a pound of sugar cost $60; now the sugar cost $200. I do construction work and I don’t get work every day; whenever I get it, I get it. I’m a family of four inclusive of my wife, son and brother-in-law. My brother-in-law and wife work and merge their money with mine to help buy grocery items and cover expenses. We try to save some of our money to cope with the cost of living. We purchase a lump sum of goods at the end of every month and seeing that I work weekly, if we fall short of any grocery items, I would purchase them. I also have two shade houses where I plant greens. We share our produce with the neighbours when we harvest our vegetables because we know how the cost of living is high. I know the government can place a price control on food items. I think the $100,000 per individual will come in handy next year but people who has a lot of kids with few adults in the home, I don’t know what will happen there when they have to collect the $100,000.”
Olinder Sharpe
Olinder Sharpe, a 54-year-old said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot because every time I go to the shop, the cost for some items always raising. My family of seven which includes my three daughters and three granddaughters try to cope with the cost of living. My three daughters work while I do one day domestic work, to help with groceries and pay the bills. I rear chicken and sell to people just to cope with the cost of living. For example, a couple months ago, a 10kg Karibee rice cost about $1,800; now the rice cost $2,760. Also, a few months back, a pound of sugar cost $180; now the sugar cost $200. We should cope with the cost of living.”
Royston Rogers
Royston Rogers, a 40-year-old farmer and pastor said: “Well, I find that I’m spending more than I have to because the cost for groceries in the supermarket seems to be skyrocketed. My wife and I spend more by budgeting more since we are spending money towards building our home; we find that we had to budget more in order to have a healthy diet. Last year compared to now, the prices are different in the market, for example, the cost for fruits and vegetables went up and never came back down. Both my wife and I work. I understand the cost of living can go up when the cost for fuel rises but when the cost for fuel goes down, the cost for food items remains the same. Even, the cost for vehicles you have to pay for the last three years has gone high. For example, a couple months back, a 10kg Karibee rice cost $1,800; now the rice cost $2,800. Also, before, a Mac battery for my van cost $20,000; recently, I have purchased the Moura battery for $35,000. I do poultry and crop farming, and as a crop farmer I take bora to the market and the retailers want to buy your bora for $60 a bundle and they would sell it back to consumer for $300. I think the Guyana Marketing Corporation should look into this.”
