VOX POP

With chicken meat and wheat prices set to increase, The Gleaner took to the streets to get reactions from members of the public.

Suzanna Edwards, hairdresser, Portmore, St Catherine

Well, if they see where they have to increase the price of chicken meat, and the chicken feed, so be it, as a consumer, what am I going to do? I cannot do nothing if they increase it. We have to buy it same way because we have to live.

Paulette Byfield, hairdresser, Portmore, St Catherine

The reasons given for the increase for chicken meat seem quite plausible, but because of the crunch that we're having in the economy now, and we all are consumers, this increase will have a ripple effect on the economy, so at this time I do not support an increase in the chicken meat.

Lisa Duff, worker in the hospitality industry/chicken farmer, Clarendon

The increase of chicken price has its disadvantages and advantages. As a chicken farmer, it will not benefit me because persons will find it hard to buy it 'cause currently, it's $160 per lb. And with the increase in chicken prices will come increases in the price for feeding, and electricity cost is already high. This new increase will more than likely run small farmers out of business.

Keisha Leslie, nursing student, Clarendon

I disagree with the rise because it is unfair to poor people. It will be all right for the persons selling it 'cause they will get the profit, but what about the persons who are buying it? They will not be able to manage the cost, 'cause is recession now and a lot of persons are not going to be able to afford it when it goes up more.

Aeon Stewart, teacher

Basically, when you have the price of any ingredient increasing, you would expect that the price of the product would go up. However, I believe that the Government should put a policy in place that not every increase should be passed on to the consumer. I believe that if the increase is above a certain percentage, yes, you would have to. I wonder how people who are earning minimum wage how they survive, because as a teacher, I'm finding it difficult too.

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