AS grassroots mothers, some of us single mothers, we can hardly afford to pay our present electricity bills,  which range from $6,000 to $12,000 on average (with some of us paying much more because of faulty wiring landlords refuse to fix), much less find money we don’t have to pay an increase of 26.7 percent.

We write not only for ourselves but for all grassroots women, low-waged and unwaged, some of whom are pensioners, security guards, domestic workers, shop assistants, women doing subsistence or very small farming, women doing micro business, and women on public assistance and even nurses and teachers and policewomen and public servants.
We survive by “catching our hand” any way we can, and even with that, month after month, week after week, day after day, having to forego one essential item like food or medication to pay for another, such as school books for our children or electricity bills.
What more do you want us and our children to forego? Life?
No. we can’t afford to pay your 26.7 percent increase!
The 26.7 percent increase will affect more than the light bills. The price for every item that depends on electricity will increase and those prices will be passed down to us, making our purchasing power even less.
Why should grassroots women and our families always have to suffer for the negligence, inefficiency and greed of those who have money and power?

JOY MARCUS
HALIMA KHAN
JOYCELYN BACCHUS
VANESSA ROSS
RED THREAD
NORMA ADRIAN
SUSAN COLLYMORE
GRASSROOTS WOMEN ACROSS RACE