Stabroek News spoke to members of the public at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Jerome Seepersaud
Jerome Seepersaud, a 42-year-old mechanic said: “The prices for items at the shop in the area have become expensive. I still have to buy the items from the shop even though the prices are high; there is nothing I can do about it; I just have to budget to buy grocery items and pay the utility bills. I’m a family of four including my wife and two sons. For example, a couple month back, a 2-litre orange juice cost $600; now the juice cost $1,200. Also, a couple months back a 10-lb cylinder cooking gas cost $3,000 and something; now the gas cost $4,000 and something. The government should reduce the cost for items.”
Parbatie Sookhai
Parbatie Sookhai, a pensioner said: “My husband had a stroke and he is bedridden at home. There is no ambulance available to carry my husband from home to the hospital, so a doctor comes home to tend to him every three or two week. I have to pay for his medical services. We both surviving on our pension. I have to use the pension money to buy things he needs to eat and grocery for the home. Upon that, I have the utility bills to pay and the cost for items at the shops is expensive; everything gone up at the shops. I have to try with the cost of living. For example, before a white bread cost $360; now the same bread cost $460. Also, a few months back, adult pampers cost $1,400 and something; now the pampers cost $1,860. The government should increase wages and provide more subsidy for people. Also, to consider distributing hampers or things that the elderly needs like pampers, every month and for the government to implement a special programme for the elderly and disabled individuals to help with the cost of living.”
Venus Wright
Venus Wright, a pensioner said: “I’m a grandmother living alone and at age 78, I still have to fend for myself. I work at the church and receive old age pension to provide for myself. I recently got my own home so I’m working on building my washroom. I don’t have enough money to buy all the material to build the washroom. Sometimes, I make puri part-time and sell them to make an extra income to help offset my expenses. I’m trying with the high cost of living; the cost of living is very hard in Guyana. For example, before a pint of split peas cost $80; now the peas cost $200. Also, a couple months back a pound of sugar cost $80; now the sugar cost $240/$260. The government should consider building a senior citizens mall so pensioners can purchase items at a cheaper cost.”
Sahodra Harilall
Sahodra Harilall, a 53-year-old housewife said: “When I break $5,000 to buy some items, the money finish. I’m a family of four inclusive of my son, daughter and husband. We just have to cope with the high cost of living. My husband, daughter and son work to provide for the home, pay the rent and other expenses. It is hard when you don’t have your own home and the cost for items has increased in the markets/shops. Right now, the cost for everything has gone up. For example, a couple months back a 10-kg Karibee rice cost $1,900; now the rice cost $2,500. Also, before a small pack sugar cost $400; now the sugar cost $500. The cost for cabbage and pumpkin gone up in the market. I don’t have a kitchen garden because I’m living in a renting place but I think we all should have a kitchen garden to help cope with the cost of living.”
Mahonie Samaroo
Mahonie Samaroo, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is affecting my brother and I a lot because our pension is not sufficient to buy grocery items; the cost is high on all items. Also, every month my electricity bill is $15,020 and the water bill is $60,000. I was told to bring in the documents to apply for subsidy from the government for electricity and water. I have not done that yet because I recently remigrated from America to Guyana since I was sick. The cost for food is very high. For example, a couple months back, a bottle Fabuloso softener cost $1,000; now the Fabuloso cost $2,000. Also, before a 10-kg Karibee rice cost $1,500; now the rice cost $2,000. I think the government should do something about the high cost of living.”
Bibi Edoo
Bibi Edoo, a 29-year-old single parent said: “The cost of living is hard because as a single parent I can’t really work, I have to depend on my family to help me. I have two daughters, ages 3 and 5; the 5-year-old goes to school and the 3-year-old is left with me at home. I usually receive public assistance for my two daughters. You see what goes on with the cost of living? You can’t afford to eat how you want; things are really hard. My father would help me buy items for the home sometimes while my mother pays my rent, and utility bills; things are hard on me; I can’t burden my parents. For example, a couple months back, a baby Enfamil milk cost $3,100; now the milk cost $4,200. Also, a few months back, a 10-kg Karibee rice cost $1,700; now the rice cost $2,300. The cost for pampers and cooking oil gone up; the cost for everything gone up. Yes, the government is doing a lot for people but before the government distribute the $100,000 one-off cash grant per individual, the cost of living should be reduced first; the cost of living right now killing everybody. I won’t get more than $5,000 for domestic work per day. When I go supermarket with $10,000/$15,000, I’m receiving about two plastic bags with items. I have my own kitchen garden that I use to cope with the cost of living. The government need to do something about the cost of living. I lost my husband due to the stress of the cost of living.”
Bibi Shellima-Lall
Bibi Shellima-Lall, a housewife said: “The cost of living is indeed hard, yes because if you observe in the markets/ shops, you will see that the cost for everything gone up everywhere. Even the amount on my water bill gone up. The cost for electricity and cooking gas gone up. My husband only works for $70,000 per month. I have four children and three working to help me financially. I have to cope with the cost of living because when I finish paying all my bills, I’m left with nothing. I have my own kitchen garden and I also rear chicken for my house use, to cope with the cost of living. For example, a couple months back, a 10-lb cooking gas cost $4,400; now the gas cost $5,000. Also, a couple months back, a bottle drinking water cost $260; now the water cost $360. I think there should be better salaries to help people with the cost of living.”
Ramlochan Persaud
Ramlochan Persaud, a 56-year-old US-based Guyanese said: “The cost of living is really high over here. When my family and I arrived in Guyana on vacation, we barely bought some grocery for a week and it came up to $60,000+ something. The cost for things are really expensive over here compared to America. Well, we have to cope with it and pray the time reach, so we can return to America. For example, a few months back, a 10 lbs cylinder cooking gas cost $4,200/$3,600; now the gas cost $4.500/$4,800. And, a few months back, a medium pack Natura milk cost $400 and something; now the milk cost $600 and something. The government should reduce the cost for items.”
Luleina Singh
Luleina Singh said: “The cost of living is hard for me because the cost for everything has gone up at the markets/shop and my husband who is a pensioner, is sickly at the moment. He receives his monthly pension which help out with paying the bills and so, but I still depend on my son and grandson for financial help. I’m not working anywhere because I have arthritis in my foot and this makes it difficult for me to walk around. I’m a family of four. I’m thankful for the little I have. For example, a couple months back, a pound of tomatoes cost $500; now a pound of tomatoes cost $700. Also, about 5 big boulanger cost $500; now 4/3 small boulanger cost $500. What are we going to do? Neither the government nor the farmers are to be blamed for the high cost of living; we just have to cope with the cost of living.”
Clifford Lloyd
Clifford Lloyd, a 53-year-old rice farmer said: “The cost of living gone up; the cost for everything gone up. My wife, son and I live together. My son and I work to provide for the home. Apart from me working as a rice farmer, I also work at my son’s bodywork business. Together we try to cope with the cost of living because every time my wife goes at the shop to buy groceries, the prices go up; there is nothing we can do about it. For example, a couple months back, a 10-kg Karibee rice cost $2,000 and something; now the rice cost $3,000. Before a big pack Demerara Gold sugar cost $1,500; now the sugar cost $3,000. Even the cost for greens gone up. The government should reduce VAT on items so the cost for these items can be affordable for us.”
