The PNCR says citizens need to voice their concerns about the spiralling cost of living and insist that the government take steps such as increasing salaries and removing VAT from manufactured food items to ease their plight.
According to a press release the party says government’s planned motion in Parliament today to “take note of the impact of Global rising food prices on the cost of living in Guyana” does not adequately address the plight. It calls on the public to join in the peaceful Cost of Living Demonstration set for today to mark their concerns. It encouraged the public to meet at the junction of Mandela Avenue and D’Urban Street at 1 pm, with their placards, banners and “empty pots, spoons and pans” to let their voices be heard.
The party said the public is experiencing the effects of the increase in prices for rice, cooking oil, bread, split peas, cassava, plantain and other ground provisions and a 25% increase in the cost of flour which is expected to increase further and government expects citizens to accept these conditions “because food prices are rising worldwide.” It said government is duty-bound to implement a programme to ease the workers’ plight and it demanded immediate measures such as the payment of a cost of living allowance for all workers; raising the income tax threshold to $75,000; reducing VAT to 8%; rationalising the electricity and water rates and increasing the minimum wage by at least 50%.
