A housewife’s dilemma – coping with the increasing cost of living

Kaieteur News – April 28, 2008
By Rustom Seegopaul

“Coducta, yuh gun stop me by de corna comin’ nah,” calls out Saleema Khan.

As she climbs out of the minibus onto the street, she thinks ahead of what she has to buy at the market – a mental list of the things she needs to buy for the house and for her family. These are the things that will have to take them through the coming week, and the list is already in her head.

As Saleema ventures into the market and hears the calls of vendors echoing through the passageways of the Bourda Market, she tightens her grip on her handbag, knowing that she holds the sustenance of her family for the coming week. She is careful with this money. With the price of just about everything going up, she knows she has to spend it wisely and that she cannot afford to be robbed.

She slowly walks from stall to stall, checking each stall’s prices before she makes a purchase. She is a member of the poorer class of Guyana’s people. Like most of the others within her demography, Saleema has a spouse with a low-income job, children to feed, and a house to run.

Prices of everything all around her are rising; from gasoline to rice, prices are higher.   

Domestic violence high on Police priorities – Asst. Comm. Brummell

Kaieteur News – April 28, 2008

Commander of the Police East Coast Demerara Division, Assistant Commissioner Leroy Brummell, says that domestic violence is very high on the list of priorities for the Police under his command. The senior Police officer was responding to queries from this newspaper about the failure to apprehend an Enmore man who eventually slit his reputed wife’s throat after years of abusing her.

According to Assistant Commissioner Brummell, a number of ranks underwent training to deal professionally with the subject, and refresher courses are constantly being undertaken.

Since killing Shaneeza Khan, last Sunday at their Grass Field, Enmore home, the suspect remains on the run despite several attempts by the Police to arrest him.

In an invited comment, Brummell told Kaieteur News that the Police did receive several reports of abuse from Khan and her mother, and action was taken on each occasion.  

Single parent registration moves apace in Region 6

- over 10,000 forms distributed

Guyana Chronicle – April 28, 2008

MORE than 150 headteachers from across Region 6 ( East Berbice /Corentyne) last Thursday were sensitised about the single parent registration process and over 10,000 registration forms were given to them for distribution in schools and communities.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has embarked on a programme to garner a database of single parents countrywide, which will inform government of the number of persons who request assistance and what types are required. The registration process began in Regions 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) and 5 (Mahaica Berbice) yesterday.

Some $100M was allocated in the national budget this year for the establishment of a single parents’ fund as was promised by President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The large gathering of headteachers met with Ms. Manickchand at the Auchlyne Primary School where she discussed the importance of their role in the single parents’ registration process and why government has embarked on this mission.