G people (Part three)

$160 a lb, before it was

$80 a lb; 3 weeks ago oil was high - $700 now it gone down to 600 something dollars for a bottle

(it dropped a little); well rice stabilize, that is good. The government should get some money back to the people that could cushion the economy because all over the world this is happening.

Put some money into the economy that can cushion the cost of living for the poor people and that would be good for us.’

Coleen Chesney

Coleen Chesney, fruit juice vendor: ‘The cost of living is high. As a fruit juice vendor to buy a 5 gal bucket of cherries now, it is expensive, it used to cost $7,000 per gallon, now it is $10,000 per gallon. Also, I can’t get white sugar. Greens raise making cost of living higher than before…

1 bag of potatoes alone expensive, 3 boulanger now is for $500, before it wasn’t like that. The government should stabilize the market and stop the rise in these things since there are persons who are barely scraping for a living, and they have a lot of children to look after’.

Marchand Sandy

Marchand Sandy, security guard: ‘The cost of living is indeed high. Given my monthly salary, I can’t complain but for other persons out there who don’t have a good job they will feel the squeeze. Vegetables like boulanger was sold a few months ago for $200, now it is for $500 for 3. The meat gone up too, chicken was for $350 a lb a few months ago now it’s $600/$700 a lb. A few days ago, a thief stole like a lb of chicken, I couldn’t do him anything because the cost of living is so high for persons to afford things. The government should drop the price a little on commodities. So far I see the government helping in other areas but they should drop the price a little’.

Peter Jordan

Peter Jordan: ‘Cost of living raise a lot. Salary is not paying, the boss is not raising the salary either because of how high the cost of living is.

The Government yes is working on roads but they should work on the prices of commodities so people can get to survive better. Today you have to buy less than before.

For instance, cooking oil was $300 something for the past few months ago now oil is $700 something a bottle. Then you have plantain, it was sold before for $100 a lb now it is sold for $200 a lb.’

Kishon Ramkellawan

Kishon Ramkellawan: The cost of living is indeed high. The prices for vegetables have gone up, for instance, now a little piece of pumpkin cost $800, before it was cheaper. Also, you have plantains that are being sold for $200 a lb before it was cheaper. I have seen that the gas price has been lowered because I added $10,000 gas to go Berbice and back home. I got more for my money compared to buying $20,000 when the gas was high. It is even better if the gas price goes back down to how it was before. The government should help farmers out so prices can drop in the market so the cost of living can be affordable to Guyanese’.

Raj Khan

Raj Khan: ‘Cost of living has gone up drastically on everything. I think the government should lower the transportation cost on private taxis because it has risen by 25%. Also, for vegetables, for instance, plantain was like $60 a lb for the past few weeks, now it is $220 a lb; boulanger for the past few months was 200 for 4/5 now it is $300 for 3/4 boulanger; etc. The government should work toward lowering the cost on certain things in general so the cost of living can be affordable to everyone. Also, consider lowering the duties and taxes on vehicles’.

Taverner Persaud

Taverner Persaud, mother of three: ‘The cost of living is very high when you have to buy and sell back to consumers. The cost of potatoes a few months back was $80 a lb now it is $100 and $120 a lb; flour was 380 a lb now it is being sold for $460 a lb; sugar used to be 60 a lb, now it’s $200 a lb; etc. As a person that sells at a food place, I think the government should drop the cost of living on things in the market because a poor man like me is feeling it. I have rent to pay and so. Also, as a single parent, with cost of living so high for things in the market, what am I going to make to sell that’s going to be affordable to consumer?’