– Guyanese living there seek President  Jagdeo’s  intervention
FOOD prices for most commodities in Barbados have doubled over the past 18 months, and is set for a further blow in light of that country’s announcement earlier this month that prices for bread and other wheat-based products will be increased yet again in the coming weeks.

The increased food prices have seen Bajans complaining and the Guyanese diaspora there reeling with frustration and despair as spending for food now takes a large chunk out of their earnings and leaving very little to save.

Guyanese in Bridgetown are now urging President Jagdeo and the PPP presidential candidate Mr. Donald Ramotar to consider establishing a Guyana Marketing Corporation retail outlet on the island in haste, to sell Guyanese food products at little over the local market price, but which should cost less than what they are paying at supermarkets in Barbados.
Demand for salted fish, rice, frozen fish, chowmein, flour, greens, and locally produced juices and related commodities at cheaper prices are currently high.
They said that private importers generally face bureaucratic red tape, and sell directly to Barbadian supermarkets who, in turn, up the prices when the commodities hit their shelves.

Some of them suggested that a direct shipping and retail arrangement by the Guyana government (possibly through the CARICOM machinery) will  better benefit Guyanese living in Barbados.

The diaspora there is also insisting that the Guyanese Head of State visit them on the island as they wish to raise several other issues affecting them, and which they believe can be addressed with his intervention. (Odella Patterson)