Part 112
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Virginia, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Rajdai Dath, a 52-year-old housewife said: “The cost of living is sky high and it affects me in every way, like money wise. I cannot buy and eat like I should. Some days I have enough money to buy items while some days I don’t. When I do buy a piece of fish, I have to stretch it to do for the next day. Then I have water and electricity bills to pay. My husband, daughter and I live together. My husband doesn’t work every day but my daughter works full time; they support me. I try to cope with the cost of living because when the utility bills come in, if we are left without money after paying the bills, so be it. Then we buy grocery items. For example, a couple weeks back, a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $2,500; now the same bag of rice cost $2,650. Also, a couple months back, a small pack Milex milk cost $860; now a small pack Milex milk cost $1,060. I think the government should reduce the cost for items because the cost for all items is high in the markets.”
Indranie Chaman
Indranie Chaman, a 28-year-old crop farmer said: “When I go to the supermarket close by, I observe the prices for all items are high. Sometimes when I budget myself for the month by putting aside $45,000 to buy grocery items, I don’t get the number of items for the money I budgeted for; sometimes the money is not enough to even buy items for myself. My family including my father, father-in-law, daughter and I try to cope with whatever little we have by budgeting ourselves because not everyday things will go well. My daughter goes to school. We are cash crop farmers and not every month we get our crops sell. Sometimes we lose from our crops and so, due to the weather and insects. For example, a couple months back, 10 lbs cylinder cooking gas cost $5,400; now the cooking gas cost $5,700. And, before a big Wesson oil cost $4,500/$4,600; now the oil cost about $4,900 and something. The government should try to do something better than what they are doing because what they are doing right now is getting harder and harder for us; things are not getting easier for us. For example, when I used to buy $200 for something; that money can’t buy the same item right now.”
Dhanraj Janeshram
Dhanraj Janeshram, a 26-year-old said: “The cost for things rising at the shops and the money I received from work cannot do to purchase items. For example, to purchase a vehicle, a car and the cost for maintenance; the cost for everything gone up. I don’t just work one place, I’m working at welding and fabrications, I raise livestock and I’m a part-time auto electrician. I live with my sister and mother. Everyone works in the home to cope with the high cost of living. For example, a couple months back, a bottle of Valvoline oil cost about $1,500; now the oil cost about $1,900 and something. A couple months back, a bag Wheat Bran cost $1,200; now the Wheat Bran cost $1,900 and something. If the government could reduce income tax a little, that will be good for us.”
Danwattie Ramnarine, a 23-year-old fisheries worker said: “The cost of living is really high at the moment. Well, my husband is a sickly person, he gets seizure. I have a daughter to care for and my grandfather-in-law receive pension. I work two/three times a week at the fisheries to support my family. The cost of living is really high. My grandfather-in-law and I would put some money together to buy grocery items and pay home expenses. For example, before 1 litre cooking oil cost $400 and something; now the oil cost $1,000. I’m now buying a 3-litre bottle cooking oil for $1,800. Also, a couple months back, a pound of chicken cost $360; now a pound of chicken cost $700. The shop owners should consider reducing the cost for items because Guyana is producing oil and rice but still the cost for items is high.
Nadia Singh
Nadia Singh, a 55-year-old part-time domestic worker said: “The cost of living is hard, yes because when I receive my money and spend it to buy food items, the money finishes fast. One and two time I do domestic work and when I don’t get any work, I have to stay without money until I get work. I live alone. Apart from buying grocery items, I pay the electricity bill; I use rain water. I plant a few things in my garden to cope with the cost of living. For example, a couple months back, a litre cooking oil cost $700; now the bottle oil cost $1,000. Also, before, a small pack Thunderbolt flour cost $360; now the same flour cost $400. Even the cost for sugar gone up. When the budget is read in the National Assembly, the cost for items will continue to raise. We just have to cope with the cost of living.”
Narine Singh
Narine Singh, a 63-year-old poultry farmer said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot because the cost for everything gone up in the markets and I have to get money to buy these items. When I’m not working, it is really hard to maintain myself. After I fell sick, I stop working in big market. About 14 individuals live in my home including three children. Some of the adults work whenever they get part-time work with people. I rear some duck and chicken to make ends meet. For example, a couple months back, a 10 kg Karibee rice cost $1,700/$1800; now the rice cost $2,800 at the supermarket in my area. And, a couple months back, a 3-litre cooking oil cost about $900/$1000; now the oil cost $1,400/$1,700. The cost for sugar gone up. The government should consider placing control prices on items because people ah control how cost should be for items.”
Nalini Beepat
Nalini Beepat, a 43-year-old farmer said: “The cost of living is not really hard for me. What are you going to do? I just have to try with the high cost of living. I have my garden that helps me to cope with the cost of living. I send my children to school and I also rear some chicken to help with the high prices when buying items from the market. I’m a family of five, inclusive of my husband and three children. My husband is also a farmer. Half of the money finishes in grocery items because the cost for the items is high. The cost for chicken feed has increased. For example, a couple months ago, a big bag rice cost $6,900; now the rice cost about $7,000 and something. Also, before, a 5-gallon bottle oil cost about $3,100; now the same bottle oil cost $3,400. I think the government should see what they can do to reduce the cost of living.”
Harry Singh
Harry Singh, a pensioner said: “The cost for certain items has gone up in the market. The cost of living is affecting me because I don’t have a regular work. I have back pain so I can’t do any hard work. My wife and I use our pension to help buy grocery items and pay the bills. My granddaughter and another family member live with us and they complain how the money is not enough to buy items. For example, a couple months back, a pound of garlic cost $300; now a pound of garlic cost $400. A couple months back, a pound of sugar cost $300; now a pound of sugar cost $700 and something. I think the government can subsidize more on food items to help with the cost of living.”
Jaggewan Ram
Jaggewan Ram, a pensioner said: “Nothing is not affecting me because I’m living alone and I try to cope with the cost of living. I depend on my pension to buy food items and pay my utility bills. The cost of living will affect people with family like my son. I can adjust myself to match the high prices for items. For example, before, a bag that consist of six tennis rolls cost $360; now the same bag of tennis rolls cost $380. Also, a couple months back, 10 lbs cylinder cooking gas cost $4,600; now the gas cost $4,800. Right now, I’m waiting on the budget to be read, to see if the cost for things will go down because right now, the cost for items just going up every year. I think since election is close, we should try to get a new government like an interim government because this government is just giving us 5% increase. The government can’t raise more than that? And the cost of living going up by 10%? So, the government telling us he ah do good but when them want go in power, the government fool us up a little and after that they forget us… The rich man doesn’t care. The rich people are coping with situation because they are in authority but poor people have nothing to do. Poor people do not have any say. I want the top side change; this election I want the people vote them out from deh and get new people with new management. I think that nothing can’t change under this government.”
Hemkarran Bahadur
Hemkarran Bahadur, a pensioner said: “My wife and I live alone. We do not have anyone else living with us, so we are using our pension to cope with the high prices. We also have a garden where we plant some greens and sell them to people in Georgetown to help us cope with the cost of living. The cost for some items goes up at the shop/markets while some doesn’t. For example, a couple months back, 2 lbs of flour cost $260; I’m now buying 300 for 2 lbs of flour. And a couple months ago, cooking gas cost $3,800; now the gas cost $4,500. I think we should cope with the cost of living because the cost for items fluctuates.”
