The upper Maroni is experiencing an episode of exceptional drought, the river is dry. This has not been seen for 60 years according to Météo France Guyane. The price of foodstuffs transported by helicopter has skyrocketed, including that of gasoline which is normally regulated. To avoid inflation, the DGCOPOP (Directorate General for Cohesion and Population) carries out regular checks but prices remain very high.
Virginie Lebacq and Marylène Rupert go to Maripasoula every week to check whether the prices charged by traders remain stable. With the Maroni dry, the shortage of certain foodstuffs caused prices to soar.
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©Jocelyne Helgoualch
« We have on the list the correction codes that have been indicated. The merchant agreed to charge a price of 10 euros and we saw this price on the poster. We check that it is on the shelf and that there is no breakage. » Indicates Virginie Lebacq.
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©Jocelyne Helgoualch
The local authority suggested that traders sign an agreement for half-price air freight.
In Maripasoula, no self-service manager has signed this agreement, preferring not to use this service. Their argument: no guarantee of the delivery date.
“It takes a really long time to happen. If you take this option you don’t know when your products will arrive whereas if I pay my own freight, it arrives faster and it’s better for me. »
Prices still very high despite the controls put in place.
« In fact, we are still seeing prices that are a little high, but we can understand in relation to transport. But the prices are still rather well respected. » recognizes Virginie Lebacq
At this other merchant, the price of many foodstuffs is not mentioned.
This control has its limits. The merchant cannot be sanctioned because prices in stores remain free.
“On the water there is a big difference, the pack of water is almost 20 euros while in Cayenne, it is more around 5 to 6 euros, rice at 5 euros per kg compared to 3 to 4 euros Normally. »
Despite the supplies put in place as part of the ORSEC plan, living in Maripasoula is still very expensive, as confirmed by this customer who paid 18 euros for his food, a packet of cakes, two chocolate bars and his yogurts, fatalistically: it’s is super expensive but we have no choice.
This other customer came on a motorbike to buy his milk by paying 6 euros per liter for his petrol.
The prefect of Guyana sets the prices of gas bottles and fuel every month. But Maripasoula is an exception to the rule.
The town does not have any gas stations. Motorists, moped riders and canoeists have no other solution than to refuel in Surinam, just opposite Maripasoula on the Mapa bank. The liter costs 8 euros, a pirogue confirms, the gas bottle 120 euros: “Everything is expensive for us, that’s not cool”
Overpriced fuel on the Maroni and supply conditions far from the regulatory framework like this canoe which serves as a service station.
A liter of diesel previously cost 2.55 euros on the Surinamese shore. With the Maroni still dry, fuel is trading at 5 euros per liter. A Surinamese canoeist explains: “In Albina we pay in SRD 1 euro per liter but Albina is far from here by canoe, so everything is expensive! »
In Suriname as in Guyana, the populations of both banks of the Maroni are bearing the brunt of inflation in the prices of basic necessities.
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