Part 105
Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public who came from different parts of Guyana in the vicinity of Stabroek Market, about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Claudia Gibbons, a 51-year-old housekeeper of Samatta Point, Grove Housing Scheme said: “The cost of living is rough with me because when I go to the market, the prices for items are very high. Well, what are you going to do? You have to cope with it. My daughter, parents and I live together. My daughter and I work while my parents receive their monthly pension. We all contribute towards covering the expenses in the home and buying grocery items. Sometimes, when we want to do repairs to our home, the money is not there to do it. For example, recently I bought a cut of pumpkin for $300; when I went back the next day to buy more pumpkin, the cost for half of the cut of pumpkin I recently bought, cost $300 now. And, before a 4lb pack sugar cost $560; now the same pack of sugar cost $700 and something. The government should bring back the time when the Bureau of Standards used to make sure there is a price control for items.”
Levaughn Clarke
Levaughn Clarke, a 28-year-old construction worker of Best Road, West Bank Demerara said: “The high cost of living does not affect me because I take my money and give it to my wife who does all the buying from the markets. I heard her complaining though, how the prices of food items are high in the markets. She would say the cost for everything is increasing but the money is not raising. My wife and I try to budget when spending our money; what we can’t afford, we don’t buy. For example, a couple months back a 10kg Karibee rice cost $2,500; now the rice cost $2,800. Also, a couple month back a pound of beef cost $400; now the beef cost $600 a pound. The government should consider increasing people’s salary, both private and public sectors.”
Dolley Sewsankar
Dolley Sewsankar, a 32-year-old part-time domestic worker of Leonora, West Bank Demerara said: “The cost of living is hard on me and my two children. I’m a single mother. My children’s father helps us out financially sometimes while I work as a part-time domestic worker to provide for my kids, pay my rent, buy grocery items and cover other expenses. I applied for public assistance for my children but until now, I haven’t gotten through with it. It is hard to cope with the high prices. I usually try to squeeze whatever little I have and make do with that. For example, before a 2-litre bottle oil cost $1,800; recently the oil cost $2,200. Also, before a 10kg bag Karibee rice cost $1,800; now the rice cost $2,000. I think the cost for items should be reduced in the markets/shop.”
Vernalina Tafaras
Vernalina Tafaras, a 44-year-old housewife of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot because I don’t work anywhere and, I’m taking care of my son who is currently admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital because he has a hole in his heart, and will have to do surgery soon. The rest of my children get big so it’s just my son, me and husband living together. My husband is in the interior right now and he’s working out there; one time he will send a little $20,000 for me. My son would usually go to school and I would have to take him to the hospital but he’s currently in hospital now. These things really affect me a lot. Then the cost for items in the markets gone up. For example, before, I purchased a 10kg karibee rice for $1,900; now the rice cost $2,600. The cost for a tray of eggs gone up now. Before a tray of eggs cost $1,200; now the eggs cost $1,500 a tray. The cost for chicken gone up also. I’m going to try to go to the Ministry of Human Service and Social Security for some help towards my child’s surgery that is scheduled for some time, in December or January month. I’m glad if I can get some kind of financial support for my child’s surgery. In order to help with the cost of living, I think the government should do something about this cost of living because remember people have water bills, transportation and rent to pay. I don’t work anywhere; just my husband supports us.”
Yvonna James
Yvonna James, a 55-year-old housewife of Belle West, Canal Number Two said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot because right now, I have a sickly son. I’m a family of eight, inclusive of my three grandchildren. My husband and I separated, he just pays me to cook for him while my two other sons are working to help provide for the home. Whatever money my family and I have, we put it together to pay the utility bills and buy grocery items. Then I have to find money to buy items my sickly son has to use and the cost for the items has gone up in the markets. For example, a couple month ago, a big bag Karibee rice cost $8,500; now the rice cost $10,000. Also, before, a 5-gallon cooking oil cost $7,500; now the same oil cost $10,000. The people have to see what they are going to do with the high cost of living; I’m just a poor woman fighting for my life.”
Iyana Ashley
Iyana Ashley, 39-year-old kitchen assistant of Wales, West Bank Demerara said: “The cost of living are affecting me a lot because I have to go looking for the cheapest place, to get something at a cheaper rate. Recently, I found that the cost for sugar has gone up. A couple months back, a pound of sugar cost $100; now a pound of sugar cost $140/$160. Also, a couple months back a 10kg Karibee rice cost $1,300; now the rice cost $1,600. I know the government did talk about why they can’t put price control on items because of the free-market economy but I think the government should try their best to put a price control on items. If the vendors are buying their items for a high price, they will have to put on a little money on their selling to make a profit as well.”
Donna McGoger
Donna McGoger, a 46-year-old juice vendor of Good Intent, West Bank Demerara said: “The cost of living is affecting me terrible because some days when I’m selling on the Stabroek Market block, I hardly make anything. I throw box to help pay my utility bills and rent. My three children and two grandchildren live with me. My children sometimes help me with the bills. Mostly, I will have to spend money to run the house and so. I’m a single mother of six children, only three children live with me. The cost for items has gone up in the market. For example, a couple months back, a 10kg bag rice cost $1,800; now the rice cost $2,500. Also, before a 10lb cylinder cooking gas cost $4,000; now the gas cost $5,600. I think the government can do something better for the people; people cannot afford to purchase the items in the shops because the prices are high.”
Melissa Augusta
Melissa Augusta, a 50-year-old police officer of Parika said: “The cost of living is not really affecting me much because if you want something, you have to buy it since you have to eat. The cost for things is going up, yes. My family of five, including my two grandchildren is trying to cope with the cost of living because all the adults are working. We do manage with the cost of living because my sons are working, husband also, and everybody comes together and do what they have to do; only my two grandchildren going to school. For example, before a 10kg Karibee rice cost $1,800/1,900; now the rice cost $2,000 and something. Before, a big bottle oil cost $8,000 and something; now the oil cost much more. I don’t know what can be done about the cost of living. At least we have oil, we can reduce the cost of living in food items but no matter what we do, we can’t do anything about the cost of living, we just have to abide with it.”
Nazaro Slowe
Nazaro Slowe, a 35-year-old shop owner of Friendship said: “The cost of living is very high because the cost for everything is expensive at the markets/shops. I’m a family of seven including my children and husband. My husband and some of my children work. They help provide for the home. I run a shop. We try to cut down on items and buy items that we need, just to cope with the high cost of living. For example, a couple months back, a cut of pumpkin cost $200; now the pumpkin cost $400/$500. Also, before a pound of plantains cost $100; now the plantains cost $250 a pound. We just have to cope with the high cost of living.”
Shawn Rawlins
Shawn Rawlins, a 46-year-old cart vendor of Charlestown, Georgetown said: “I don’t really look into the high cost of living because at the end of the day, the cost for prices goes up and so does your salary. When your salary goes up, the cost for items gradually increases piece by piece; sometimes it might take months to see the increase in prices of items at the markets. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, things were sold cheaper than now. I help provide for my three kids, wife and brother who has stroke. I manage with the cost of living. Some days, I barely make money but you just have to know how much money to put up for rainy days. People blame the heads of Government for what is happening but sometimes when the government give individuals within government to share out money to the people, they don’t do that.”
