Dear Editor,

I am writing to express concern about the continued rise in the cost of living in Jamaica and the growing pressure it is placing on ordinary households.

Every trip to the supermarket seems to bring another unpleasant surprise. Basic items that families depend on — food, toiletries, transportation, and household supplies — are becoming increasingly expensive. What is particularly troubling is that wages have not increased at the same pace for many working Jamaicans.

The situation is forcing families to make difficult choices. People are buying less, switching to cheaper products, postponing medical care, reducing recreational activities and, in some cases, relying on credit simply to make it through the month. For those who commute to work, rising transportation and fuel costs add another burden.

We often hear discussions about economic growth and improvements in national indicators, but ordinary citizens need to feel these improvements in their daily lives. Economic progress means little to a family that can no longer comfortably afford its groceries or keep up with its monthly bills.

I believe the Government, businesses, and other stakeholders must give greater attention to measures that can provide meaningful relief. This includes addressing high food prices, improving public transportation, supporting local production, and ensuring that workers’ earnings keep pace with the realities of inflation.

Jamaicans are resilient, but resilience should not be mistaken for an ability to endure unlimited hardship. People deserve an economy in which working hard provides a reasonable standard of living rather than simply the ability to survive from one payday to the next.

Rohan Dawkins
Falmouth, Trelawny
rohkins@hotmail.com