Making ends meet in Barbados is a daily grind for an increasing number of Barbadians and it is time Government confront the high cost of living that has further complicated thousands of lives. It is a predicament that has dogged us long before COVID-19 but is now more dire.
For years, we have been consistently ranked as one of the world’s most expensive places to live and that pinch is hurting harder than at any time in recent memory.
We have heard the well-worn pledge from politicians on all sides of the political divide to address high prices. It is time to move once and for all from rhetoric to real action.
Almost daily on the call-in radio programmes and on social media, citizens are venting frustration at mounting prices for utilities, fuel and especially food from supermarkets, corner shops and vendors.
Many lament that the price tags on basic goods appear to have extra cents and, in some cases, even dollars at virtually every purchase, straining households already forced to operate on a limited budget as salaries and wages either decline or remain fixed.
With children now attending school online from home, parents and caretakers are digging deeper into their pockets to provide every meal.
It’s even more difficult for scores whose livelihoods disappeared as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic upended jobs, for the elderly who depend on their pensions, and for the vulnerable who rely on welfare.
More people are in abject survival mode.
A picture of the current situation came last Friday from one charity on the frontline of assisting those who need help the most.
The Salvation Army said its finances were under significant strain as more people seek assistance. Divisional Commander Major Brenda Greenidge said that with so many people out of work the number of people in need of support has jumped nearly five-fold over the last year.
People who would normally contribute to the annual Christmas kettle campaign are now needing assistance themselves, she said.
Six months ago, the Caribbean COVID-19 Food Security and Livelihoods Impact Survey on Barbados signalled that the pandemic had altered how people earn a living and meet their critical needs.
The survey which involved over 1500 respondents from households averaging three persons found that food security was a major concern even with the Government providing support through a range of measures including its Adopt-a-Family programme and the distribution of care packages to vulnerable households.
The survey said: “Many are struggling to meet their food needs, and a worrying quarter of respondents are still reducing the amount they eat. The disruptions caused by the pandemic do not affect all households in the same way. Across most indicators of wellbeing, low-income households and those working in tourism and hospitality appear to be the hardest hit, along with households that rely on informal income sources or government support.”
With COVID-19 lingering on, hindering any real recovery despite a few positive signs, we expect pretty more of the same and in some cases further deterioration in personal circumstances.
This state of affairs must be concerning to Government, trade unions and the private sector. We believe it is an urgent matter that requires the attention of the Social Partnership. Barbadians need relief.
It’s is not enough to ask us to cut and contrive and to reduce spending when too many have little if anything to spend.
We also welcome suggestions for Barbadians to grow more of what they eat, and in time we hope that it is reality, but it is not a plaster for an open sore.
We have heard talk of price controls to rein in the situation, if necessary, but it has just been that – talk, given past administrations commitment to unfettered capitalism.
Barbadians want solutions. Admittedly there is no clear fix, but it will mean that the Mottley administration must drill down on all policies that hamstring merchants from delivering more goods and services more cost-effectively.
And equally, businesses will have to assess whether their markups to consumers are based on fairness, or a mere desire to extract maximum profit or shoring up waste and inefficiency.
Reasonable Barbadians – whom we contend to be in the clear majority – fully expect to pay their fair share. What they also deserve is practical action and honest conversation on how the cost of living can be realistically addressed.
