By Subhana Shiwmangal
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in the Stabroek Market, Georgetown about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Nandranie Jaikaran
Nandranie Jaikaran, 53-year-old vegetable vendor: `Business is a little slow because everything gone up in the market and people hardly have money to shop in the market. I’m the breadwinner for my home and although everything gone up in the market, when the day come I still have to pay my bills. Some days I would only make about $3,000/$4,000 while some days I make nothing. Also, some days I don’t make back my money for the items I purchase to sell back. Everything get expensive, for instance, the Natura pound pack right now cost about $760, before the cost was $300. Even sugar gone up, a pound of sugar now cost $160, before the cost was about $60 a pound. The government should do something about these rise in prices for basic food items in the market. They can raise all single parent’s salary or maybe give them something to help them with the cost of living. Also, to help people who are disabled and can’t afford to buy things.’
Abiena Wilson
Abiena Wilson, 37-year-old snacks vendor: `Well I don’t raise anything despite other people raised their items. Food items are not cheap in Guyana, people have to go back to planting, for example, a pound pack of Fernleaf milk a few months ago cost about $860, now the price gone up to $1000. The pound pack Natura milk now cost $700, before the cost was about $300…even our Demerara Gold sugar expensive. I try not to worry about the cost of living but instead I try to manage to pay my bills when the month comes. What I think is that the Bureau of Standards should look into expired items that are sold on the market, as well as to why the prices for items have risen in the market. They should come around every month and check how the people in the markets are selling the items. I don’t know if the Ministry don’t have time with these things but the price for basic food items should get back to normal. I won’t blame the government, however the Bureau should at least come around and show some level of standard as to the rise in prices on these goods since these goods have risen in a flash.’
Monique George
Monique George: `Everything gone up in the market, look at how a pound of Golden Cream margarine cost now, a pound is sold for $560. A few months ago the same butter cost about $400. Even the Medium pack of Natura milk expensive, the cost now is $760, before that same pack of Natura milk cost about $460. The prices for food items in the market are expensive and stressful. Now both husband and wife have to work to pay rent and prices for things in the market are not dropping. I think the government should drop the prices on basic commodities that are sold in the market in order to help people to afford certain things in the market.’
Nadya Fraser
Nadya Fraser: `I have noticed that a lot of produce, for instance, greens and basic food items that are growing right in Guyana are sold expensive. Probably not the farmers doing it but the middlemen exploiting the consumers. I see no need for these middle men to sell things at an exorbitant price. Now I can see the greens price for peppers, tomatoes have dropped a little but still more items are still expensive for people. The 20 pounds bottle cooking gas for example, was sold before for $3,800/$3,600, now the same bottle of gas cost about $5,000. When business people purchase items like footwear to sell back they are buying it for a high price. When we receive it to add on a profit, it is a difficult task because if we raise prices because of how we are buying it for, our loyal customer will source somewhere else that has a cheaper price. Basically, we barely could put on money on our profit margin when you look at it and not forgetting, we as store owners and clothes vendors have bills to pay. I don’t know if the government can actually reduce prices on basic commodities because it’s not only Guyana experiencing the high rise in prices in the market, this thing is a worldwide thing. I think though, the government should raise the salary of all public servants by 25%. Also, to offset some of the cost of living as right now, it has sky rocket in the market.’
Uuela Gibbons
Uuela Gibbons, a vendor: `Everything in Guyana has risen in the market and you still working for the same amount of money. A few months ago, a big bag of Washee laundry detergent soap powder was $1,500/$1600. Now the same pack is sold in the market for $1,700 and $2,000 at some places. Every week something in the market rising and people’s salary remaining the same; even butter expensive now. A lots of thing I cut back on in the home because I have children going to school and I have to pay lessons fees and this is really hard on me. All I’m doing right now is working to pay bills and eat. Right now, $40,000 as grocery money can’t really buy much grocery for my family. I think the government should increase people’s salary and reduce the taxes on food items so people can afford to buy groceries. Also, the government could provide cash grants for a period to people to assist them, along with more hampers per month to help people in need of food items.’
Lakeshwar Raghunandan
Lakeshwar Raghunandan: `All over the world, people complaining about the rising cost of living, not only in Guyana. Due to this I’m finding that I’m saving less because the prices for items just rising and some dropping, prices fluctuating in the market whether on greens or groceries. I’m trying to cope with it though, for instance, a pound of potatoes a few months ago was $80, now a $100 is for a pound of potatoes. Then there is onions, a pound of onions now is $200, before the cost per pound of onions was $160. I won’t blame the government for the high prices in the market because this is a worldwide thing, instead I will cope with the high price.’
Roxanna Koster
Roxanna Koster, a 52-year-old groceries vendor: `The rising cost of living is expected because as a Christian, I believe that this was foretold in the Bible that we, Christians, would have critical hardship to deal with. I don’t stress out myself behind the rising cost of living, I would just accept the situation as it and live my life per normal in these conditions. I don’t think that man can reduce the cost of living but God can do that and I will continue to trust in him for his guidance. Well I switched to the Milex milk because of my health conditions and I find that the pound pack Milex milk is expensive. The price right now is $1,060, before the price was about a $1,000. I’m relying on God to provide for me.’
Sumwatte Jewt
Sumwatte Jewt: `Some items in the market gone up, for instance, the price of the small pack Natura milk used to be $560 a few months ago, now the same pack of milk cost $700. Potatoes all gone up in the market, a pound of potatoes is $100 right now before the cost per pound was $80. Even cooking oil price gone up, along with basic things such as toothpaste. The government is not to be blamed for the cost of living but I think the government should work towards reducing the cost of living so items can be affordable to people.’
Chandroutie Alfred
Chandroutie Alfred, fruits vendor: `The cost of living is affecting me a lot because I’m the sole breadwinner for my family and I depend on my vending to pay my mortgage and to run the home. Things are indeed high in the market and some days I would make enough money to pay my expenses and to run the home and sometime because of the rise in prices in the market, people don’t buy fruits and I would find it difficult sometimes but still I try to cope with the cost of living. Right now a pound of banana is $300, before the price was $140 a pound. Despite everything gone up in the market, I’m still coping with the high prices. I won’t blame the government for the cost of living because there is nothing they can do about it, we just have to try to cope with it for now.’
Sarah Fortune
Sarah Fortune, a 30-year-old fish vendor said: `Everything gone up in the market, even transportation to travel from Region Three to vend at the Stabroek market every day is expensive. Also, basic commodity such as eggs and milk are expensive. The cost for a small Natura milk now is $760, before the cost was about $300. Look at the egg price, five eggs are for $500 now, before the egg prices were cheaper. I think the government should assist the single parent with money to buy certain food items. Talking about that I haven’t received my $25,000 from the government as yet, I would really like if they can assist single parents like me because things are really high and not always I would get sales to maintain my children.’
