Interviews and photos by Subhana Shiwmangal
Calvin Williams
Calvin Williams, a 48-year-old shop owner said: “The cost of living is affecting my family and I a lot when buying items. I don’t even have a land of my own to live on. My wife and I are living in a tiny place within our business, which is located at the corner of the road while our six kids reside at their grandmother. My wife and I run a shop. We are trying with the high cost of living. Every day I go to the shop to buy items to resell and I have noticed that the cost for something always rising. I never get to apply for a land through the Ministry of Housing because every time I go to apply for a land with the Ministry of Housing, I not getting through. Right now, I’m just trying to see what I can do to provide for my family. The cost of living is high. I used to buy a 10kg bag of Karibee rice for $1,760; now the same Karibee rice cost $2,100. Also, the cost for a case of 24 ounces drinks a couple months back was $1,900 wholesale; now the same case of drinks cost $2,300/$2,400 wholesale. I think the government should do something about the Chinese who are coming in the country and selling their items cheaper than us. I mean they started out like that but then the people still buy from them despite the Chinese have increase their cost on items after a time. Also, I’m glad if the government can assist me in acquiring a land.”
Devon Sam
Devon Sam, a 48-year-old barber said: “The cost for things is high right now. The cost for all items in the shop have increased. A pound of sugar might be about $200 one day; the next day the cost has increased to about $300. Every other day the cost for food items just skyrocketing. I’m a family of seven including my three children, sister and two brothers. One of my brothers and I are working right now. For example, a 10kg Karibee rice a couple months back cost $1,800; now the Karibee rice cost $2,800. The cost for some vegetables has reduced while the cost for some vegetables is still high in the market. For example, a pack containing 7 carrots a couple months back cost $400/$500; now the same pack of carrots cost $1,000. I think the government should consider implementing a co-op shop in every area in order to stabilize the market price so people working for a normal salary can afford to buy food items.”
Rodlyn Trotman
Rodlyn Trotman, a 29-year-old mother said: “The prices for all food items have gone up in the market. I recently started selling provision from my home. I’m a family of five including my children, fiancé and brother. My brother and fiancé work. We are trying with the cost of living when the day comes. By far the prices for food items have increased in the market. Sometimes you go to the market and spend $60,000 in food items and you would want to know if you purchased goods worth $60,000. The prices for certain vegetables have reduce in the market while the cost is high for some vegetables, for instance, the cost for a pound of cabbage was $700/$800 a few months ago; right now, a pound of cabbage cost $260. The cost for some food items is high now, for example, the cost for a pint of black-eyed peas was $240 a few months ago; now a pint of black-eyed peas cost $480. Also, the cost for a pint of channa a couple months ago was $300; now the cost for a pint of channa is almost $540. Well, the cost for provision has reduce in the market because a couple months back, a pound of plantains wholesale cost $240; now I’m buying a pound of plantains for $100 and something wholesale. The cost for almost everything in the supermarket is sky high right now because almost everything is taxed. I think the government should reduce the tax on certain food items.”
Doris Williams
Doris Williams, a pensioner said: “Well, I live alone and my children take care of me while sometimes I buy food items for myself. The cost for grocery items is high but it doesn’t affect me much because I also receive my monthly pension, whatever food items I run short of, my children would help me out with that. I’m coping with the rising cost of living. The cost for sugar has increased in the market. Even the cost for milk has gone up in the market; a small pack of Natura milk before cost about $300 and something; now the same milk cost about $500 and something. My two sons farm so I don’t have to buy vegetables, they would give me. A slice of pumpkin before cost about $100/$200; now a slice of pumpkin cost $500. Even the cost for imported item has increase. I think the cost for food items should be reduce.”
Clive DaSilva
Clive DaSilva said: “The prices for food items are expensive in the market and I’m spending more money for food items. I’m a family of four, including my common-law partner and her niece and nephew. Everyone is working to provide for the home but still we are feeling it with the high food prices because the salary is not rising, only the cost for food items. For example, a 20kg Karibee bag rice before cost $1,500; now the same bag of rice cost $2,300 at some places. A pound of chicken before cost $300; now a pound of chicken cost $500. The government should place price control on food items since every shop I go to have a different price for the same items.”
Akeela Williams
Akeela Williams said: “When the prices for food items rise in the market my family and I don’t buy it, we buy the cheaper items instead. I’m a family of four, including my parents and brother. My parents are the only ones working to provide for the home. For example, a pound of plantain a couple months back cost $200 and something; now a pound of plantain cost $300 and something. A 10kg bag Karibee rice a couple months ago cost $1,500; now the same bag of rice cost $1,700. I think the vendors should consider reducing food items more so the prices can be more affordable for people to purchase.”
Anita Jhon
Anita Jhon said: “Some vegetables prices have been reduced in the market while the prices for other grocery items are still high. I don’t really buy vegetables because my family would give me. Some grocery items my husband would buy. I’m a family of two and only my husband work. We try to cope with the cost of living by budgeting. For example, before three Bangamary fish cost $500; now the same fish cost $1,000. Even the cost for cooking gas gone up. Well, I saw squash selling at a cheaper cost now in the market, three for $100 now. I think vendors should reduce the cost for food items.”
Kenecia Sertimer
Kenecia Sertimer said: “The cost of living is challenging for everyone. I’m a family of three. My mother receive pension and she provide for my sister and I. My family and I are coping with the cost of living by limiting usage of goods so the cost of living doesn’t affect us. Well, the cost for greens fluctuates in the market. A pound of celery before cost $800; now a pound of celery cost $3,000/$1,500. A medium size Natura milk before cost about $500 and something; now the milk cost $700 and something. I think the rising cost of living has to do with the economy and stuff. Low-income persons that are receiving a low salary the cost of living tend to affect them more when providing for the home. I think better mechanism should be done for these people. Also, for other people, such as single mothers, the government should provide subsidies and other benefits such as hampers, on a monthly basis to these people in order to help with the rising cost of living.”
Michelle Harper
Michelle Harper, a 48-year-old single mother: “The cost of living has been affecting me badly because the salary is not increasing. I’m a family of four, including my two sisters and child. My self and my child are working … My child is currently attending the University of Guyana and I have to pay her fees (cash) and that can be a strain on me. Other than that, there are our basic need to cater for. We have to eat; we have to wear and everything else. My daughter is an ordinary office assistant and she attends the University of Guyana. Most of the cost I have to stand for the home and it can be hard on me. The prices for food items have increased in the market. For example, a 50kg Karibee rice a couple months ago cost about $5,000; now the same rice cost about $8,000. Also, a one-pound pack of Natura milk cost $400 and something; the milk cost about $500 and something now. I think if the government try to increase teachers’ salary as much as possible, then teachers would be able to do a lot. Look at a headteachers’ salary for example, when all the deductions are taken out from the gross salary, the net salary can’t help her to run a house that consist of a lot of people then pay rent and cover other expenses.”
Julius Bacchus
Julius Bacchus, a 49-year-old businessman said: “The cost of living is affecting my family and the food business we run on a daily basis when we purchase from the supermarket/markets. The prices for the ingredients alone to make our food has increased in the markets. We used to sell a small food for $800; now we had to increase our price to $1,000. My family and I are making do with the cost of living by cutting back on some items we normally offer to customer on their food. Simple greens, the cost is not going down to its regular price. Celery still is expensive although it reduce a little. A pound of celery a couple months back cost $2,500; now the cost is $2,000/$1,800. A pound of celery cost about $800 before. Prices for many items are not how they use to be. People do farm here and the vegetables that are expensive are not the imported stuff, they are the ones that are produce right here. We are the bread basket. When you go at Bourda market a certain time, the same vegetables that are sold expensive are left to throw away. We could have a food bank, food storage place so if a man didn’t get his produce sell, he can take it to a market like the farmers’ market, for example and sell it for some money instead of throwing it away. The cost for a bundle of bora is expensive now; before the cost was cheaper. I think this should be looked into.”
