The old problem persists

Sep 04, 2025 Editorial

Kaieteur News – From the look of things President Irfaan Ali has been given a new mandate for a second term in office.

He and his PPPC Government will begin a new term, but old problems still persist. One of them is the rising cost-of-living in Guyana. High cost-of-living has been suffocating citizens for over three years now.

The high cost-of-living crisis has become a burden that too many citizens are struggling to bear. Food prices, in particular, continue to climb at an alarming rate, eroding the purchasing power of households and forcing many families to make painful choices about what they can and cannot afford. Ali must be acutely aware that while his government has offered occasional relief in the form of cash grants and other short-term measures, these are merely band-aid solutions. They provide temporary relief but do nothing to address the structural issues driving food inflation and the overall cost-of-living.

The PPP/C Government has more millions in its hands, but it does not prioritise what is helpful to hurting people, but is more about projects, where underhanded activities have drained the nation’s coffers, and enrich political operators. Struggling citizens have scant interest in another project that involves cement and steel, and the many millions that go into them, to erect new monuments to our prosperity. Whose prosperity, certainly not the many citizens living in poverty, and often hungry? Guyanese learn of more loans taken, and more millions borrowed for building road and educational and health capacity, and they wonder what about the yawning, gnawing capacity in their stomachs that cannot be half-filled almost daily. Why is it with all the sweet political speeches from leaders that citizens still live at the same standard (perhaps worse) as eight years ago, when the first announcements came about oil discoveries?

The statistics say that Guyanese are incredibly rich, yet there are all these citizens of Guyana that struggle to buy greens and vegetables to put a simple meal on the table for their families. The PPP/C Government, an unequalled master at propaganda, has said that it cares. The question that can be asked is what do the Government and its leaders really care about, aside from the self-enriching interests of both. When everything else becomes a distant second, when the struggles of poor and weak and vulnerable citizens amount to more opportunities for political games, then care is not a factor.

And so, if there is one area the President Ali’s new government must urgently tackle is the high cost-of-living crisis – not with piecemeal interventions, but with a comprehensive strategy. At the core of such a strategy should be a serious look at establishing fair and stable market prices for locally produced food.

Farmers, who are often at the mercy of fluctuating markets and middlemen, need assurance that their efforts will yield sustainable returns. Likewise, consumers deserve access to affordable, nutritious, and locally grown food.

Boosting agriculture production must also be central to the response. Guyana has vast agricultural potential, yet production levels in key food items are not keeping pace with demand. Incentivizing local farmers through access to financing, improved infrastructure, modern farming techniques, and guaranteed markets would not only stabilise prices but also reduce dependence on imports, which are vulnerable to global shocks.

Beyond agriculture, the government must look at measures that address the broader drivers of inflation. This includes tackling transportation costs, improving supply chain efficiency, and ensuring that policies are in place to curb price gouging.

If left unchecked, spiraling costs will only deepen inequality and social frustration. Citizens do not want handouts that evaporate after a few days of grocery shopping—they want long-term solutions that create stability, security, and hope. The government has the opportunity and responsibility to act decisively. Doing so will not only ease the pressure on struggling households but also strengthen Guyana’s economic foundation for years to come.

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Editorial, PPPC Government, President Irfaan Ali, Second term

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