PNCR suggests emergency measures to deal with the increased cost of living

- Subsidising basic food items; providing increased resources to families in the Public Assistance Programme, among the proposed.

PNCR Leader, Aubrey Norton

Leader of the People's National Congress Reform Aubrey Norton during the party’s weekly press conference said that the increased cost of living needs to be addressed immediately as citizens are feeling the impact of it.

As such, Mr Norton said it is important that the Government consult with the opposition on how to address this issue while noting that they have failed to do so thus far.

As such the party has called on the Government to immediately put to use the sum of the five billion dollars allocated in budget 2022 to address this situation.

The party leader proposed several emergency relief measures that could be put into place to address this issue.

“One granting a market supplement to low-wage workers, two expanding the school feeding programme to cover 2-3 nutritious meals a day, three subsidising basic food items, such as flour, cooking oil, rice, and milk, and four providing increased resources to families in the Public Assistance Programme,” he said

Furthermore, he highlighted that inflation cannot be addressed by only increasing income rather it must include measures to increase local food supply.

“We believe that one of the ways to address these sharp food price increases is through building agricultural production throughout Guyana. Each region of this country should be food-secured.”

The further increase in the cost of living is being attributed to the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine.

During this time one of the major commodities that have seen an increase in is fuel and President Irfaan Ali has committed that if there is an increased cost in the supply for light and water the Government will offset the expense.

He said it is in his Government’s interest to ensure that Guyanese do not suffer.

This commitment was also reiterated by Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.

Consultations are presently ongoing on developing other measures to possibly cushion the effects of this new economic situation.