How the Cost of Livin
Stabroek News spoke to members of the public in Central Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara about the rising cost of living and how it is affecting them. The following are their comments:
Frances Abel
Frances Abel, a farmer, said: “A lot of things should change because cost of living is high right now. For example, vegetables that we, the people, produce in Guyana, the cost has increased in the markets. Even an item like rice that we produce in Guyana, the cost is high. The salary that we work for can’t help to buy food items from the market since the cost for food items has increased in the markets, not even to pay the utility bill. I have a vegetable garden I usually take care of but what happen to public servants who doesn’t have a kitchen garden and they have to buy everything?
For example, a pound of celery before cost about $300; now a pound of celery cost $1,500. Also, a pound of tomatoes cost $60 wholesale before; now a pound of tomatoes cost $500 wholesale. That’s only the wholesale price, what about the retail price? I don’t know how people can manage to shop at the market with the small salary we are working for. The cost for meat has increase in the market now. A pound of beef before cost $500; now a pound of beef cost $700. The government should not only invest in infrastructure but on its people more. I think the government should focus more in increasing people’s salary more; like the teachers, police, nurses, pensioners and others. I admit that the government had reduced the cost on some of the utility bill like the water bill but there are still more changes that need to be done by the government to help with the cost of living.”
Jermaine Nobraga, a 49-year-old carpenter said: “My family and I try to cope with the high cost of living by budgeting, the cost for items that are expensive, we don’t buy it, we improvise by purchasing cheaper items for our money but what I can say is the cost of living is high. For example, a reasonable size of trout cost $2,000 before; now the same trout cost $4,000. Also, a pound of pork cost $500 before; now a pound of pork cost $700. I think the government should reduce the tax on all food items to help with the rising cost of living.”
Carmen Burke
Carmen Burke, a 76-year-old pastry baker said: “The cost of living is high so I bake pastry part time to help with the rising cost of living. I’m living alone and my monthly pension that I receive would assist me to pay my utility bill and buy food items. The cost of living doesn’t affect me that much because I try to cope with it. For example, a pound of plantains cost $140 before; now a pound of plantains cost $300. A big pineapple that cost $300 a couple months back; now cost $600. I try to buy a large quantity of certain items from the supermarket to last me for a while. Now $20,000 can only buy a few food items. Sugar, sweet potatoes, the cost for everything has increased in the markets. I think the government should increase the monthly pension by $10,000 more to help people my age with the cost of living. Even starter feed for the chicken I rear, has increase too. A big bag starter a couple months back cost $5,000; now the same bag cost $7,000.”
Donald Burke, a pensioner said: “The cost for oil, sugar and other food items have increased in the markets. The rising cost of living is bothering us a lot because right now I’m buying a small bundle of bora for $1,000 and that can’t do because I had to buy potatoes to add to it, so I can stretch it for my family of four. Even the cost for a cut of pumpkin expensive now. The cost for chicken has risen in the market. For example, a pound of chicken last August cost $380; for a while now, a pound of chicken cost $500. A 1 litre bottle of oil that cost $400 before; now cost $1,000/$900. The bottle of oil doesn’t even last long. The home’s main source of income is my wife and I monthly pension. We tried doing a side hustle to get an extra income by selling pointer brooms but still the cost of living is high for us. Even the cost for electricity has increase a lot for me and this is hard on my family, noting the limited source of income we receive. The government should reduce the cost for food items and increase people’s pension more, like $40,000 more. $5,000 now can’t do to buy a lot of food items since the cost for all food items have increased in the markets.”
Stacy Richmond
Stacy Richmond, a 33-year-old single mother said: “The cost of living is affecting me a lot, yes because educational wise, the cost for school items my children need, is expensive now. Apart from that, the cost for food items has increased in the market. The items I could have bought for $20,000 before, now I have to double the money to purchase food items. This has affected me because I can’t save,
I have to spend more money for food items. For instance, A normal packet of ketchup for the home before cost about $300 and something; now the same packet of ketchup cost $400/$500 and something. And, a 100-pounds bag of sugar that cost $8,000 before; now cost $15,000. The government should provide more assistance to the people to help with the rising cost of living because the $25,000 per household didn’t last long.”
Kahanince Girgawattie
Kahanince Girgawattie said: “The cost of living is affecting me because my earnings sometimes can only do to buy food items for my home consumption. It can’t