Economy plummets, children suffer

Child and Family therapist, Dr. Beverly Scott, believes that with the rising cost of goods and services in Jamaica, the needs of children are threatened as parents seek to maintain their households.

“Basic needs, especially for children, will not be met because parents will have to meet compelling needs. Light and water bills will have to be paid, despite the increases and food must be bought for the family,” Dr. Scott of the Family and Parenting Centre in Montego Bay, said.

She noted that while the government has made provisions for the nation’s physical health through removing user fees at health facilities; the child and family therapist cautioned that “we must also consider the psychological impacts of these rising cost will have on the family structure.”

Nevertheless, Dr. Scott suggests that parents should talk to their children about what is happening in the country so that they can understand why their parents cannot buy everything they need.

Several middle-income earners in western Jamaica, they all expressed similar sentiments about cutting-back on grocery expenses to facilitate the hike in utilities, motor vehicle license fees and fuel.

“Everywhere you turn is pure expenses. Right now if you eat breakfast, you can forget about eating lunch because people just can’t afford it,” said Grace Walker, a young professional of Cornwall Courts in St. James.

“I have to contend with all these increases and while I earn a decent salary, I am still finding it difficult to cope.”

She added that existing deplorable conditions of the roads leading to the community is also set to take a toll on her motor vehicle upkeep expenses in light of these increases.

Cornwall Courts represents the largest housing scheme in St. James with more than 3,500 housing solutions.

Another resident - government worker, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that has to be doing some serious “belt tightening” to survive.

“Right now to conserve on water bills, I have to use one cup a water to brush my teeth and anywhere it done a so it go. Bills affi pay and me can’t afford to eat healthy anymore because even that is too expensive,” he shared.

Lorraine Windett of Farm Heights in Montego Bay charged: “While prices are increasing, our salaries are not. Sooner or later our salary won’t be able to meet our basic needs. I use to spend $2500 to 3500 per week on grocery, as a single household, but now my grocery spending will have to go down by far in order to pay my bills.”