Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Bagotstown, and close to the Demerara Harbour Bridge junction on the East Bank Demerara about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Ryan Charran, a 34-year-old Grove taxi driver said: “All items have risen in the market and people’s salary had not increase. All I have to do is try to cope with the cost of living. I can’t tell nobody my problems. I’m a single parent to my daughter who goes to secondary school and usually, I have to find $20,000 a week for her expenses. Her grandmother helps her out too. I don’t get to save anything because everything in the market is expensive now. The cost for all food items gone up in the market. For example, a small piece of pumpkin that cost $300/500 a few months ago; now cost $1,000 for the same piece of pumpkin. A pound of celery, a few months ago cost $1,000/$1,500; now a pound of celery cost $4,000. I started a business as a welder first but people couldn’t afford to pay my price I was offering them since I had to raise my cost because the cost of material to do the job was costly. I had to quit the welding work eventually and find another job to support my family. I’m a taxi driver now. Also, look at the road conditions in Grove on the East Bank Demerara. The government doing roads in Guyana… they should stop doing that and focus more on the rising cost of living. We can’t eat roads. I think the government should work towards reducing the cost of living in Guyana.”
Ashamali Johnson, a 22-year-old from the West Coast Demerara said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot since the cost for all items gone up in the market. Now, I’m paying $1,000 for a pound of pumpkin and pumpkin grows in Guyana. I can’t understand this. A few months ago, a pound of pumpkin cost $260/$300 for the same small piece. A bag of Karibee rice cost almost $2,000 now; a few months ago, the cost was about $1,360. $7000 is no money now when buying food items. I think the government should reduce the cost of vegetables because not everyone can afford to buy vegetables to maintain a healthy lifestyle with the high-cost vegetables are sold for in the market. Even the cost for other grocery items needs to be reduce.”
R Sookram said: “The cost of living is affecting everyone. I can afford to buy items but what happen to the people who can’t afford to buy anything? That’s my issue. Both my wife and I are working and we manage to save a little but the cost of living still affect us. My issue is, what the government doing about the small man that cannot afford a daily bread? There are Guyanese people that live on the ground and barely have a shed over their heads and the government not doing anything about it. I think it is because of the oil situation, the cost of living gone up. The cost for items like sugar and flour gone up in the market. A pound of sugar that cost $90 before; now cost about $600. A 1 kg pack of Thunderbolt flour a few months ago cost $300 and something; now the pack of flour cost $600. Do you know many children from secondary schools in Georgetown don’t have anything to eat in the morning? I’m affiliated with the Dolphin Secondary School so I can tell you about it. Myself and others have just started a feeding programme and we usually try to get funds to feed children from various secondary schools. People are donating things and so on, just to feed these children because children go to secondary schools and don’t have anything to eat. The government should look into this, not just one area but to extend the feeding programme continuously to all areas in Guyana.”
N McCalmon said: “When I go to the market/supermarket, the cost for all items gone up. As a family man, the cost of living is affecting me since I have to raise more money to provide for my family and with the high cost for food items in the market, this is difficult. My children have to get snacks every day. I’m a family of four including my two boys. Right now, all items in the market expensive. For example, a pound of tomatoes cost $300 and something a couple months back; now a pound of tomatoes cost $800. Also, 2 packs of carrots that cost $200 and something about nine months ago; now cost $700 per pack of carrots. One of the things I find is, the government exports our vegetables more compared to the quantity that’s in our local markets. Whatever small amount of items left in the country that is what is selling at a high cost. The government need to implement price control on food items. Also, give every family a voucher to help with the rising cost of living.”
A. Crandon, a 47-year-old single parent said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot since I cannot purchase certain items I need for my family. The food items I used to buy I can’t buy. I have to make sure I pay the utility bills first and whatever money left back that’s what I have to use to buy food items, which may last for a week. This is not easy for me. I paid my daughter CXC fees and the income I usually earn, I earned it from whatever work I get. The cost for food items gone up in the market. For instance, a few months ago a pound of cheese cost $300; now a pound of cheese cost $600. I think the government should monitor the cost people are selling food items for, in the market because if the government don’t look into this, the prices will continue to rise, even if a voucher is given to purchase food items.”
Sheik Ahamad, a pensioner said: “The cost of living is not affecting me a lot since my family would help me with grocery items. Also, I receive my monthly pension and what I can say is, the cost for food items have gone up in the market. I just try to cope with the cost of living. A small parcel of bora that cost $200 a few months ago; now cost $500. We, the people, produce a lot of fruits in this country and even the cost for fruits gone up. Seven or eight mangoes a couple months back cost $500; now 5 mangoes cost $1,000. The farmers’ market that the government started is good since people like me can buy more items for my money compared to when I buy food items from other markets. I think the government should make the farmers’ market something regular.”
Natasha Jhooar said: “Every time I go to the market, the cost for food items rising and this is affecting me because my husband is the sole breadwinner of my family and his salary is small. We can’t even save. I’m a family of four including my children. For example, a couple months back, 3 boulanger cost $300; now that same 3 boulanger cost $500. Also, a large bottle of Wesson oil a couple months back cost $3,400; now that same bottle of oil cost $3,800. I think the government should look into the prices the supermarkets are selling their items for.”
Zoronee Farstoll said: “The cost for all food items in the market gone up. I would take care of my father; I don’t work anywhere so the cost of living is affecting me a lot. My husband is not with me right now, I rely on the help from two of my children who works and my father’s pension. Even that is not enough for a family of seven. I normally use $35,000 to shop but now if I don’t have more money, I have to cut down on certain food items. For example, a small piece of pumpkin a few months ago cost $400; now a small piece of pumpkin cost $900. Five pounds of loose sugar a few months ago cost $900; now that same quantity of sugar cost $1,400. I think the government should provide every household with some sort of money towards food items every month.”
Carolima Leza, resident of Parika said: “My husband and I work but still the cost of living is affecting us a lot since all food items have gone up in the market. I’m a family of five, including my three children. I’m a cleaner and the money I’m working for not enough to support my family. Some days I don’t have money to send my children to school. Right now, my family and I are squatting. All food items gone up, for example, a 10 kg Karibee rice a few months ago cost $1,700; now the cost per bag of rice cost $2,000. I use to spend less before for grocery items, now I’m spending like $40,000/$50,000 in grocery items. The government should provide hampers to every family every month to help with the cost of living.”
Bornellas Smith, a 32-year-old Parika resident said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot when travelling and when purchasing food items. My salary is low and it’s not enough to cover the cost for food items. I’m a family of three and I do try to cope with the cost of living even though when we (family) go every week to the market to shop and see the prices have risen on food items. For example, three boulanger a few months ago cost $260; now that same parcel of boulanger cost $500. A pound of hot peppers a few months ago cost $300; now a pound of pepper cost $1,800. The government should call a meeting with farmers to see how they can assist them with their produce, so the price on food items can be reduce.”
