THE increasing cost of food items is hitting us all very hard and while I see the PNCR supporters marching and complaining about the high cost of living, we should consider ourselves very fortunate as compared to other countries including the mighty United States.

On May 9, I came across a video report from CNN on the internet that gave a clear picture of the crisis facing New Yorkers, and I wish it could have been broadcast on local television for Guyanese to see. Can you imagine the middle-class of the ‘Big Apple’ is unable to ‘make ends meet,’ as the reporter stated?

In fact, the situation has become so drastic in the City that the children driving to school in BMWs and having Ipods and other luxuries are returning home to no-food since their parents cannot afford to provide this basic necessity. Surely, if this is so, we in Guyana are not really having a crisis. Yes, the cost of food had increased significantly, but at least we have access to supplies and can afford to make the purchases.

According to the CNN report, the main food bank serving New York has seen a 73 percent increase in the number of full time workers who need help because a fuel price increase of just 5 percent is contributing further to the situation. The problem has grown so much so that the food banks are running out of food and people are being turned away by empty shelves.

As I recall the reporter’s words ‘How can America the land of plenty get to this point?’ I wonder if Guyanese will ever be appreciative of our position with the abundance of food and resources to produce more.
J. MORTAGUE