As inflation levels remain high in Guyana, rural communities are feeling the most pressure from rising food prices says Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament (MP), Juretha Fernandes.
During an AFC presser today, Fernandes pointed to the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Statistics which revealed a 7.4% increase in food prices from May 2023 to May 2024. The data also indicated a 1.5% rise in food prices from April to May 2024 alone. The Bureau’s report detailed significant contributors to this inflation, including a 5.6% rise in the cost of vegetables and vegetable products, a 4.6% increase in fruits and fruit products, and a 4.2% hike in condiments and spices. Smaller but notable increases were also observed in sugar, honey, and related products (1.8%), fish, meat, and eggs (0.3%), and oils and fats excluding butter (0.1%).
“The increase in the prices of vegetables and fruits is the leading contributor to the inflation of food,” Fernandes emphasized, drawing a direct correlation to the declining standard of living for some ordinary Guyanese. She noted that the index, which served as the basis for the inflation data, only captured urban areas, leaving the struggles of rural residents underrepresented.
Rural areas, Fernandes explained, are disproportionately affected by inflation in food items and transportation costs. With transportation inflation recorded at 0.2% between April and May 2024, rural residents face exorbitant prices for essential goods. This situation, she argued, underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to alleviate the economic burden on these communities.
In questioning the government’s response to the inflation crisis, Fernandes referenced CARICOM’s initiative to reduce food imports by 25% by the year 2025. She stressed the pertinence of this initiative in light of the ongoing inflationary pressures, questioning the current state and effectiveness of this policy.
Fernandes also criticized Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo for his recent comments on the cost of living crisis. “The Alliance for Change notes with concern the utterances of the Vice President as he seemed to try to simplify and belittle the impact of the cost of living crisis being faced by Guyanese,” she stated. Fernandes urged the government to implement meaningful measures to address the situation, particularly in relation to job creation and economic opportunities.
In her address, Fernandes also called for a comprehensive approach to tackling inflation, especially policies that directly benefit rural communities. She argued that without such measures, the economic disparity between urban and rural areas would continue to widen, leaving many Guyanese struggling to make ends meet.
