Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Non-Pareil, East Coast Demerara about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
By Subhana Shiwmangal
Awad Persaud, a 52-year-old part-time weeder said: “The cost of living is rough on me because sometimes I get work and sometimes I don’t. I’m a weeder and I depend on this job to pay my bills along with selling some vegetables from my kitchen garden. I’m living alone and because of my health condition, I can’t weed at a certain time, only in the mornings but not to overdo it. Right now, the prices for greens and so going up back in the market. I purchase greens from the bus that pass often in the area and I found that the prices for greens were cheaper a few weeks ago, now the prices going up back, not only from retailers selling in the area but at the markets as well. For example, in January, I bought a pound of eschalot for $300 from the bus; now a pound of eschalot cost $800 from the bus. In January, a pound of peppers cost $300 in the market; now a pound of pepper cost $700/600 in the market. The cost for items going up back. Well, the cost of living is a world-wide problem. People said since this government takeover, things getting worse, no that’s not true; this problem is something that happens worldwide. We just have to cope with the rising cost of living. We can’t blame the government. If you want the items, you have to buy it. You have to get up and get.”
