#BTEditorial – Job No.1 must be the rising cost of living

At the turn of the new year, we express our hope for things to get better. But while we have rolled into 2023, some things from 2022 remain with us – though we would have been content to leave them behind.

The burdensome and challenging high cost of living is one such thing.

The reality is we feel the effects of this daily, whether in the supermarkets, gas stations, utility bills, gym fees, health care, or in purchasing other products and services. In every sphere, we are forced to pay a high price to live.

In her New Year’s address to the nation on the first working day of January, Prime Minister Mia Mottley sought to rally the nation to prepare for the challenging time that lies ahead.

She promised that the Government would continue to look out for those living below the poverty line and those struggling to make ends meet.

The Prime Minister said: “We will ensure that the mission of enfranchisement and empowerment continues to be our guiding principle. But we are still sensitive to the fact that there are some of you who are feeling it harder than others. And, to that extent, the Government will keep its eyes open and its arms wide in order to support you, just as we have done over the course of the last few years.”

But just yesterday, Barbados TODAY carried two stories about how prices have continued to rise.

One story stated that, according to the 2022 Global Broadband Price Comparison, broadband service in Barbados continues to be among the most expensive in the world. The average package cost per month is US$106.54 (BDS$213.08), making the country the fourth most expensive in the English-speaking Caribbean.

We are in an age when the Internet and connectivity are vital. Internet service for businesses and some households is as important as running water. The functionality and survival of some operations hinge on this. The other story of interest is the increased cost to keep fit and stay healthy in gyms across the island.

Our story, Gym Fees Up quotes one member lamenting the increase in her gym’s membership fees, from $140 per month to $160 or $40 per week to $50 per week.

She said: “The gym is supposed to be a place where people go to help them get healthier, but food costs are going up, people have less disposable income and added to that the choices in terms of healthier food are more expensive. If you are looking to bring down things like non-communicable diseases, a consideration has to be made in terms of making healthier foods cheaper and also allowing people to have greater access to health facilities like a gym. I now have to think about reassessing whether I want to make that additional $20 monthly investment to go to the gym or just hit the street. I know it is going to hamper people’s physical journey who feel more motivated when they go to the gym and have access to equipment and get a personal trainer.”

The $20 increase may seem slight to some, but it is enormous for others who are operating on a strict budget. We understand, too, that as a business the gym has to respond to rising operational costs.

In a video released on Thursday morning on social media, business executive and former Democratic Labour Party candidate Ryan Walters explained just how much of a difference $20 can make: “In some households, $100, $50, or even $20 can be the difference between paying a bill or buying meat to put on your food.”

He went on to call for relief at all levels, given the large sums being collected in taxes.

“You see, if we do cost of living correctly, we can have a healthier economy overall that is good for everyone. When working families have more money to spend, they will invest it back into the economy through consumption and investment, which will create jobs and spur economic growth. Ultimately, efficient cost of living management would improve the quality of life for all people, not just those at the top,” Walters opined.

We feel the plight of the mother of two who wants to be able to access gym services to help remain healthy, and we also agree with Walters’ call for more to be done.

One does not have to possess an economics degree or be versed in the subject to know that something has to give. It is becoming too much for too many.

The PM called for all of us, who can, to work hard in order to get over this trying period, but people respond and perform better when they feel less stressed. The working class should be able to enjoy some aspects of life without constantly having to worry about bills and making ends meet.

We, therefore, urge the Government, its economic advisors, the private sector, the labour movement and all involved in the Social Partnership to make easing the cost of living job number one. Bajans desperately need that ease.