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Commentaries on Cost of Living Spot On
Jun 13, 2024 Letters
Dear Editor,
I commend various writers for focusing on rising cost of living. The comments about the effects of rising cost of living are spot on. The poor cannot afford three meals based on their meagre income; in fact, many don’t have an income and live on handouts. The middle class are also affected, barely making ends meet. They all complained about they can’t manage their budget with increasing prices of basic goods and materials for lodging.
I regularly traveled around the country every few months, including last month, visiting markets, shops, and homes gathering opinions of the public on government performance and other issues. I also conversed with interviewers who collected data (interviews for surveys). The number one issue the public complained about as gathered from interviewers and from my own engagements over the last five years, and more so since Covid, has been inflation or the continuous rise of prices for basic foods. There has been no or little let up on price rise.
The second issue people complained about the most over the last decade was corruption. Not everyone was or is concerned about the effects of inflation on their lifestyle, but everyone complained about corruption. Corruption is linked with inflation as loot has to be invested raising inflation. It will be dishonest of me not to say that respondents stated that certain officials have been extremely corrupt (names mentioned to me and how they acquire wealth illegally). What was shocking was the names mentioned who I always thought were or are incorruptible. I still find it incredible they are on the take. And while informants made allegations, strong evidence are hard to obtain to convict those perceived to be corrupt. But politically, as I learn from my doctorate in political science, perception is realty. Voters are influenced by perception and voters tend to convict politicians on hearsay and perception especially if they are struggling financially.
Inflation has not adversely impacted the wealthy class as they can afford the best meals, clothing, comfort and overall lifestyle. But inflation has had a telling effect on the middle class, the poor, and the downtrodden, the bottom 50% of society. Not many politicians, on both sides of the aisle, display empathy and compassion for the poor. There are few Jaganites around. The closest or among a few still around is the Vice President Jagdeo. He seems to want to control cost of living so as to lift standard of living. He recognizes the political damage of continuing rise in price of foods, housing, and other basics with elections expected before November next year. But controlling inflation in a trade dependent economy tied to global supply chain like Guyana is very difficult.
The government must find creative ways to control or bring down prices of basics, subsidize certain basic staple foods like flour (for bread and roti), milk, potatoes, split peas, and others. Farmers must be encouraged to produce more milk and vegetables (greens) so as to bring down prices. Every eligible adult should be offered a job — private sector should be given incentives to hire more workers. Failing implementation of those mentioned above and more, the public will continue to complain about the effects of rising prices on their standard of living resulting in serious political fallout.
Yours Sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram
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