The 24-hour mental health hotline, Lifeline Barbados, has received well over 6 000 calls since its launch in April 2024 – evidence, said Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Jerome Walcott, of the nation’s growing reliance on accessible mental health support.

Delivering the feature address at the opening of the 69th CARPHA Health Research Conference on Wednesday, Senator Walcott described Lifeline Barbados as “a vital step towards ensuring accessible mental healthcare for all persons.”

“From February 1 to May 2, the helpline received 6 572 calls,” he disclosed. “Issues range from anxiety, depression, suicidal and homicidal ideation, substance abuse, and social challenges. There were 740 calls recorded last month—the highest number for a month since the start of the programme.”

He continued: “The data highlights ongoing reliance on this vital service. A high resolution rate and positive feedback affirm its crucial role in Barbados’ mental health landscape.”

Senator Walcott was speaking under the conference theme,Mental Health: A Hidden Epidemic, which he said captured the urgency of the issue and the need for “real solutions, collaboration across different groups, and strong support from leaders, organisations, and communities.”

“Mental health is not an adjunct to public health,” he asserted.

“It is foundational.”

The minister said the COVID-19 pandemic had “exposed the weaknesses in mental health support systems and showed how closely psychological wellbeing is connected to economic stability, education, and social resilience.”

Referencing data from the World Health Organisation, he noted a 25 per cent global rise in anxiety and depression since the onset of the pandemic.

To address the gaps in mental healthcare, Senator Walcott announced several legislative and strategic initiatives. These include the ongoing review and modernisation of Barbados’ mental health legislation in partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), as well as the completion of a national mental health reform plan and roadmap to bring services in line with international best practices.

“The revised legislation, grounded in a human rights-based approach, will play a crucial role in promoting community integration, strengthening mental health services within primary care, and expanding access to quality care at the community level,” he said.

But he warned that institutional reforms alone would not be enough.

“The greatest obstacle we face is stigma. Stigma keeps too many of us silent. It delays treatment, deepens suffering, and in its most devastating form, leads to preventable loss of life. This cannot continue,” he declared.

“We must replace shame with empathy, silence with conversation, and fear with understanding. Only then can we create a society where mental health is recognised, supported, and prioritised for all.”

He called for a national cultural shift that starts “at the most personal level and extends into every institution,” including families, schools, churches, and Parliament. “We must work to normalise mental health dialogue in public and private spaces alike. We must amplify the voices of survivors and advocates and foster a climate in which seeking help is not regarded as a weakness, but recognised as an act of courage and strength.”

In a direct appeal to Barbadian youth, Walcott added: “We see you. We hear you. We understand the weight of the pressures you face—academic, emotional, digital and social. We know that too many of you are struggling in silence, feeling unheard and overlooked. That is why we are turning words into action.”

Additionally, he said the government is expanding schoolbased mental health programmes and peer support networks, while creating more platforms for youth voices to inform mental health policy.

Looking ahead, the minister laid out four pillars for a stronger regional mental health response: integrating mental health into national health and education policies; launching public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma; creating targeted interventions for vulnerable populations; and investing in data, infrastructure, and workforce training.

“Mental health is not a luxury, nor is it optional,” he said. “It is a fundamental human right. Our response must be rooted in shared responsibility, and it must be sustained by a collective will to act.” sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

The post Over 6 000 reach out to mental health hotline in first year appeared first on Barbados Today.

The lack of early autism screening in Barbados remains a major concern, according to the President of the Barbados Autism Association, Frank Johnson, who hopes that public events like the Autism Heroes Walk will help raise awareness and drive change.

“The main challenge is getting screening for the children early enough. A child should really be screened at three years old. It’s a little difficult screening before three, but if a child has missed developmental milestones . . . you really should become aware that there may be a challenge involved,” Johnson said on Monday, as over 200 men, women, and children took part in the annual Autism Heroes Fun and Wellness Walk and Cool Down Fair.

Beyond early diagnosis, Johnson pointed to other issues, including the absence of reliable national data on autism.

“We don’t have strict numbers here in Barbados,” he explained. “There has not been what I call a census taken of the exact number of children with this disability.

“The last national census that was done… it didn’t focus on a particular developmental challenge, which I think it should do.”

He also highlighted a critical shortage of trained professionals, saying: “We do need more specialists. We need more occupational therapists, and speech therapists or speech and pathology specialists. They do a fantastic job, but they are oversubscribed.”

However, for many families, the cost of private screening and therapy remains a heavy burden.

“A lot of our parents have to pay privately for consultants to carry out screening and testing . . . . Getting it done privately is expensive . . . but as I say to parents out there: think of it as an investment in your child’s future.

“A lot of young parents . . . have no idea what they’re up against . . . except that they know there is something wrong. They go to their GP or the polyclinic and report that their child is missing the developmental milestones.”

To address these challenges, Johnson said the association is working on forming partnerships that would make screening more affordable.

“In the near future, possibly working with insurance companies to provide support grants to parents who cannot afford the intervention. If we can swing that towards those groups in the next couple of years, we will be making fantastic strides.”

In addition to those efforts, the association is preparing to expand its physical presence. A new headquarters in the Garrison area is currently being renovated, which Johnson hopes will become a hub for affordable, accessible support and therapy.

“We are just about to finish our renovated building, which has been granted to us by the government,” he said. “We’ve taken out a lease for ten years, with a renewable ten years, just around the corner from the Barbados Council for the Disabled.

“We hope to go into partnership with speech therapists and occupational therapists to be able to offer subsidised programmes. We do see ourselves as providing many different answers . . . for all income brackets.”

He added that the association is launching new initiatives to support those families emotionally and mentally. (LG)

The post Lack of early autism screening a major concern, says association head appeared first on Barbados Today.

A sharp rise in cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia among young adults has prompted health authorities to warn of a growing public health threat, despite stable rates in HIV infection, the virus that leads to AIDS.

Senior medical officer of health in the Ministry of Health, Dr Dale Babb, revealed on Wednesday that although HIV prevalence in Barbados is currently stable, other STIs are on the rise.

“HIV is not gone,” he said. “Our prevalence in Barbados is currently one per cent. We registered 107 persons for care in 2024, and that is similar to the average number that is registered per year.”

Dr Babb noted improvements in early detection and treatment of HIV, but warned that the public must not overlook the spread of other infections.

He said: “What I want to caution the public about is to remember the other STIs—syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia—are often forgotten about, even though I hear, repeatedly, persons saying that they don’t hear about HIV anymore. It hasn’t gone anywhere, but guess what else hasn’t gone? Syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.”

Over the last two years, there have been shifting patterns, with gonorrhoea cases increasing significantly, particularly among men, the senior health official said.

“What we have noticed in the last two years, 2023 and 2024, is an increase in the number of cases of gonorrhoea and chlamydia, and in 2024, an uptick in the number of syphilis cases,” she said.

“In the past, we always would have noticed more females than males with both chlamydia and gonorrhoea. But in 2023 and 2024, we’ve noticed an almost equal proportion of males and females with gonorrhoea.”

“The number of females with gonorrhoea has not been rising to contribute to that difference that we’re seeing, but it is the number of males that has risen,” Dr Babb explained.

The increase in cases is most prevalent among people in their twenties, she reported.

“The age group most commonly where we see the rise is the 20 to 24 age group in males and females.”

While the number of chlamydia cases has climbed slightly, the positivity rate has remained steady.

“Chlamydia rates, although numbers have risen, the overall positivity rate has not. So what we’re seeing with chlamydia is a consistent, I don’t want to say steady, but a steady number of cases, whereas gonorrhoea is going up and syphilis is going up.”

Dr Babb reminded the public about the importance of responsible sexual behaviour.

“Let us please not forget the other STIs and the way we prevent all of them is similar, it’s the same. Having one partner consistently, knowing your status, using a condom each and every time, and practising safer sexual practices.”

The Ministry of Health plans to ramp up public education, condom distribution and free testing through ongoing outreach efforts. These initiatives aim to reach vulnerable populations and foster healthier, more informed communities. (LG)

The post ‘Unsafe sex’: STIs surge among young adults appeared first on Barbados Today.

Officials are moving ahead with reforms to Barbados’ mental health care system, including the launch of a national Employee Care Programme to support the well-being of health care workers.

The announcement was made by Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, during the Psychiatric Hospital’s Awards Ceremony held on Saturday night at Mahogany Ridge.

Cyd Birch- Prescott (right) received the Grace Bailey Award, presented by Psychiatric Hospital Director David Leacock.

Themed Excellence Should Be Our Hallmark, the event honoured outstanding staff and long-serving members of the hospital community.
Minister Ishmael outlined a vision for Barbados’ mental health system. “I have a vision that this Psychiatric Hospital and its team will be a sterling example, the standard bearers, the gold standard of mental health care in the Caribbean and maybe even the world,” he declared.

“The Government of Barbados, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, remains steadfast in its commitment to investing in a modern, people-centred mental health system. We do not only speak of reform, we act on it, and we act boldly because we believe that mental health is not a privilege; it is a right.”

Recent reforms include the strategic expansion of community-based mental health services with the integration of multidisciplinary teams—psychologists, social workers, and other professionals—into the island’s polyclinic network.

“These teams are now more present and better integrated across our network of polyclinics, ensuring that all citizens regardless of income, geography, or background have access to comprehensive mental health services close to their homes,” the minister said.

Infrastructure upgrades are also underway. The hospital’s outpatient department is slated for reopening, and renovations to the observation ward are in progress to ensure alignment with international standards.

Another initiative is a national training plan to ensure that both clinical and interpersonal skills align with global standards. The focus will be on patient rights, de-escalation techniques, and the integration of physical and mental health services. To strengthen early detection and frontline care, public health nurses are being trained in Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) competencies to better support individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

“I call upon all staff to appreciate and maximise the investment being made, not only in the physical plant or the technology, but in you, our most important assets,” Ishmael told the hospital workers.

Reflecting on the purpose of the evening, he noted, “This event is a celebration of dedication, of excellence, and of the unwavering commitment to service that defines each and every one of you who are here tonight.

“In mental health, excellence takes in even deeper meaning. It requires not only clinical knowledge and technical skill, but profound empathy, patience, resilience and an unwavering belief in human dignity.”

He encouraged a society-wide approach to mental health advocacy, noting that “many people need a lifting hand, a word of comfort—sometimes just a hug—and that can help them to come back to reality”.

During the ceremony, awards were presented in recognition of long service and outstanding contributions. Recipients of the Hospital Director’s Awards were Selvin Greenidge, Michelle Moore, and Rodney Stuart. The prestigious Grace Bailey Award was presented to Cyd Birch-Prescott. Soca performer Peter Ram was one of the recipients of the Friends of Psychi Awards for his continued support of their initiatives.

The post Government to launch mental health support programme for health workers appeared first on Barbados Today.

As the global health community sounds the alarm over the rate at which antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rising and global health systems strain under the weight of complex diseases, Barbadian ethnobotanist Dr Sonia Peter is calling for a return to the island’s natural roots as a solution. 

She is urging the government and private sector to invest seriously in the development of a local medicinal plant industry rooted in the island’s rich biodiversity and traditional healing knowledge.

“We need to go back into our history,” Dr Peter, director of the Biocultural Education and Research Programme, told Barbados TODAY over the weekend following a kitchening gardening workshop. “There is value in our plants, and there is value in our knowledge. What we lack is the investment and infrastructure to harness it properly.”

Citing a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report on the integration of traditional medicine into public health systems, Dr Peter argued that Barbados must act now to both preserve and commercialise its botanical wealth before it disappears—along with critical knowledge passed down through generations.

“The WHO estimates that nearly 80 per cent of the global population still relies on traditional healing methods. That tells us this isn’t folklore—it’s fundamental, and we need to standardise it [local remedies] so people know how to use it safely and effectively,” she said.

Dr Peter’s warning comes amid rising global concern over antimicrobial resistance, a phenomenon where bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens evolve to outsmart conventional medications. The consequences are dire, she said, as common infections could become untreatable, surgeries riskier, and public health gains of the past century could be reversed.

“We’ve been treating microorganisms in a very temporary way. We treat them, then forget. We misuse medications. That’s how resistant strains emerge—organisms evolve, get stronger, and our drugs become useless,” she warned.

Her solution? A homegrown response rooted in the Caribbean’s natural pharmacopeia.

Dr Peter explained that the Caribbean is a biodiversity hotspot, home to hundreds of unique plant species that produce molecules not found anywhere else in the world. This, she argues, places Barbados in a prime position to develop locally derived natural therapies that could supplement national healthcare efforts—and reduce dependency on imported drugs.

“These plants are making molecules peculiar to our region. That’s exactly where we should be looking for new treatments,” she said. “We must stop calling everything ‘bush’ and start seeing these resources for what they are—life-saving and economically valuable.

“We do not have the luxury of just doing science because we like it. As a small nation, we must extract value from our scientific investment, and that starts with protecting our intellectual property,” she stressed.

Over the years, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has lamented that there were too many people dying as a result of antimicrobial resistance while addressing audiences locally, regionally and internationally. 

Mottley, who is co-chair of the One Health Quadripartite Global Leaders Group, said she had a moral duty to speak up about the dangers of overreliance on antibiotics, referring to it as a “slow motion silent pandemic”.

Beyond health, Dr Peter sees untapped economic potential in the development of a natural medicine sector in Barbados, pointing to Cuba’s successful model, which fuses traditional medicine with scientific rigour.

“Cuba is an excellent example. They’ve built a robust healthcare system partly on their own medicinal knowledge because they were forced to innovate. We don’t need to wait until we’re backed into a corner,” she said.

She envisions a dual-sector approach—combining research and development with eco-wellness tourism, where visitors can engage in healing retreats, botanical experiences, and herbal product lines unique to the island.

“This could be a niche market in tourism, as well as a driver of economic diversification. The future is in value-added knowledge, and we’re sitting on a green goldmine,” she said.

However, she also acknowledged the cultural fragmentation that has led to the erosion of traditional practices in Barbadian households. 

“The grandmothers who once held this knowledge are now working. Our social structures have changed. But those gaps can be filled through education and outreach,” she explained.

Her programme seeks to reintroduce this lost knowledge into schools and communities, bridging generational divides and reigniting respect for local plants. “We must reconnect with our landscape, our heritage, and our health . . . We are cutting down plants without knowing their value. What if that plant was the cure for cancer?” she asked. “We need more rigorous policies around our botanical resources—and the courage to invest in ourselves.” 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

The post Hidden cure: Scientist urges investment in natural remedies appeared first on Barbados Today.

Youth advocates on Monday marked World Health Day by calling for a ban on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, urging policymakers to build on recent health initiatives aimed at tackling the nation’s childhood obesity crisis.  

In a letter to Suleiman Bulbulia, chair of the National NCD Commission, the youth representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition praised government policies designed to encourage Barbadians to adopt healthier eating habits and resist the marketing of unhealthy foods in schools.  

“We wanted to say ‘thank you’ to our policymakers for the strides already made—like the 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks, the school nutrition policy implemented in February 2023, and the recent removal of VAT and import duties on certain fruits and vegetables,” said Michron Robinson, youth health advocacy officer. 

“But we also wanted to raise the alarm on the need to ban direct marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Our schools should be safe, health-promoting spaces—not playgrounds for junk food advertising.”  

Robinson noted that the school nutrition policy marks a significant shift in national health priorities, but implementation remains incomplete. One in three Barbadian children is overweight or obese, and the ripple effects are already being felt in families, workplaces, and the national economy.  

“We have a crisis on our hands. Childhood obesity is not just a health issue—it’s a societal issue,” Robinson said. “Healthy beginnings are essential for hopeful futures, and that starts with what we allow into our schools, from food options to advertising.”  

Bulbulia praised the youth advocates for their leadership and vowed to ensure their concerns reach key government ministries.  

“Our youth are speaking clearly, and we’re listening,” said Bulbulia. “If we want a hopeful future for Barbados, we need to take care of our health now—not when we’re 40 or 50, but from early childhood. The school nutrition policy is a critical part of this.”  

He stressed the contradiction in banning alcohol and tobacco advertising to minors while allowing the promotion of high-sugar, high-fat foods that lead to serious health problems.  

The NCD Commission has pledged to expand public education and policy support for healthy eating, with Bulbulia noting that the broader cultural shift must also involve families, communities, and the private sector.  

“This World Health Day, we encourage every Barbadian to reflect not just on their personal habits but on the systems that influence those habits,” he said. “We have made progress, but we must now move with greater urgency to protect the next generation.” 

(SZB)

The post Youth advocates urge ad ban in childhood obesity fight appeared first on Barbados Today.

Environmentalist Kammie Holder has launched a scathing attack on the importer of a popular Jamaican energy drink, accusing the company of flouting environmental laws and neglecting its corporate social responsibility as discarded bottles increasingly litter the island.  

Holder, the chair of the Future Centre Trust, accused beverage distributors of prioritising profits over environmental responsibility, amid complaints that bottle returns were not being accepted.  

Speaking about the distributor of the drink in question, he disclosed: “We have reached out after getting concerns from the hikers in this country and the public at large to that importer, who has treated us with scant respect as it related to their corporate social responsibility.

“Within 48 hours, I shall be writing to the Ministry of Commerce, under which the Returnable Containers Act falls, and I shall be writing to that company to ask them where is their corporate social responsibility as it relates to that drink that they import from Jamaica,” Holder said on Wednesday.  

The Returnable Containers Act of 1986 establishes a mandatory deposit-and-refund system for empty beverage containers. In 2019, it was amended to expand the list of containers that should be accepted for return to include separate sealed glass, metal, aluminium, steel or plastic bottle, can, jar, carton or other receptacles which may consist of other materials that are recyclable or reusable and is capable of holding 3.8 litres or less. This amendment gives reusable items other than polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and glass bottles value, as they can be redeemed for between five cents to 15 cents each.

Some of the representatives from the 11 charities seen here with the donations they received.

Holder further lambasted the distributor’s boastful claims of financial success despite failing to address the pollution caused by their product. He stated: “It’s totally unacceptable that you can brag about your millions that you are making yearly [but] you have no concern for the environment. My voice may be strong, but I have zero tolerance for ignorance when it comes to our environment.

“If I was the minister, those drinks would be banned from Barbados. If you are going to be so bold to speak of the millions you are making but continue to import a drink from Jamaica, and then your bottles are littering this country—my beautiful country—and then the importers are not taking the bottles back, to then brag about the millions you are making yearly? Unacceptable.”  

Holder also criticised the lax enforcement of littering laws, stating that despite the strengthening of environmental protection laws over the years, authorities have been slow to engage in strong enforcement measures.  

He said: “Over the last 15 years, I’ve participated in Clean Up Barbados, and persons have been caught littering and you know what happens? They get a slap on the wrist, which to me is an epic insult to those persons who every year go and participate in Clean Up Barbados. We are talking about thousands of persons every year cleaning up behind dirty persons, but yet when a person is caught, they are told to go and get it cleaned up.  

“Totally unacceptable, so until you have the police service, a ministry, an inspectorate taking it seriously, nothing will change in this country,” Holder declared.  

Paul Bynoe, managing director of B’s Recycling, echoed Holder’s concerns and revealed that attempts to engage with the drink’s distributor had been unsuccessful.  

Bynoe said: “I don’t understand his story with the agent. We try to get all the agents to make contact in order for them to receive them back or let us know what to do and it’s just not happening. I don’t know what to say to them or what to do in order for them to understand that they are breaking the law, and the lawmakers now got to step in and say ‘okay, this is right or this is wrong—as far as I see it.” 

Efforts by Barbados TODAY to reach the distributor for comment also proved unsuccessful.

(SB/SZB)

The post Energy drink distributor slammed for ‘environmental neglect’ appeared first on Barbados Today.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has firmly rejected claims circulating on social media that it is facing a blood supply crisis, insisting that current stocks remain “within required minimum levels”.

The hospital issued a statement on Friday addressing reports that alleged that the QEH had only 77 units of blood available and had been forced to outsource blood testing to the private sector due to shortages.

“The hospital is not facing a crisis, nor are we on the verge of running out of blood supplies,” the QEH insisted, adding that while “blood availability fluctuates based on patient needs, our team is actively managing supplies to ensure continued patient care”.

The statement also addressed concerns about laboratory testing capabilities, explaining that a “temporary reduction in reagent stock for one specific serological test (HTLV-1)” had been “swiftly identified, and the necessary resources have already arrived”.

According to the QEH, there has been “no interruption to blood testing or collection services” and the temporary outsourcing of some laboratory operations was described as “a proactive measure related to remedial cleaning efforts” rather than a response to any crisis.

The hospital emphasised that “at no point has this led to an inability to conduct critical testing” and encouraged eligible Barbadians to “continue donating blood to support our healthcare system”.

In its statement, the QEH urged the public to seek accurate information and avoid unnecessary panic, reaffirming its commitment to providing high-quality care to patients. (BT/PR)

The post QEH dismisses blood supply crisis claims, assures public of stable stocks appeared first on Barbados Today.

Health officials have found “no evidence of rodent infestation” at the General Post Office, Postmaster General Joann Busby has insisted, contradicting claims that prompted a union leader to advise workers to stay home over safety concerns. Busby strongly refuted the allegations, revealing that preventative cleaning measures were already planned for the weekend.

The head of the Unity Workers Union, Caswell Franklyn, said he had received complaints of rodent infestation on Wednesday and Thursday.

Franklyn had advised workers to refrain from reporting to their stations due to health and safety concerns but Busby insisted in a statement late Friday that workers need not be concerned.

Busby explained that management became aware of staff concerns about the possible presence of vermin yesterday and moved promptly to address the matter. Michelle Walrond, deputy postmaster general for operations and personnel, met with the staff and toured the area. As a result of the concerns expressed by staff members, out of an abundance of caution they were restricted from the area.

Busby said janitors were asked to wipe down the work surfaces and a professional cleaning firm was contacted to provide the necessary cleaning service in the area of concern. This was undertaken and staff, who remained sceptical on Friday were so advised by the senior postal superintendent of mails, Gracie Stephens-Nelson, who was on-site during the cleaning process.

This was followed by a meeting held by Cecil Benjamin, deputy postmaster general for international postal affairs and business development, with the assembled staff members to address their concerns.

Given that the GPO in Cheapside is surrounded by a fresh-produce market and several canteens – bait stations were located throughout the building. Busby said.

She added that in light of the staff concerns additional traps were set, and disputed the claims.

Busby said in a statement: “The allegations of the dead rodents around the building as a result, are completely erroneous. It seems that Mr Franklin was incorrectly informed. Moreover, management had already made arrangements for the industrial cleaning to take place on the weekend of March 22 and 23, 2025, to ensure that employees return to a safe and sanitary working environment on March 24, 2025. information of which Mr. Franklin was also unaware given his public statements.”

The postmaster general insisted that the safety and wellbeing of all postal workers are very important to this management team, saying: “We focus on resolving problems, once they are brought to our attention.”

Busby disclosed that a team from the Ministry of Health led by Principal Environmental Officer Lena Prescod as well as vector control officers from the Vector Control Unit visited the General Post Office for an inspection, following which Elly Holford, vector control officer, said that there was “no evidence of rodent infestation”.

Busby added that “in the interest of the peace of mind of our staff”, a Ministry of Health official is expected to visit the General Post Office Monday morning before staff members return to their stations.

“We are most grateful to them and Vector Control for their prompt response and their invaluable assistance in resolving this matter,” the postmaster general said in her statement. (BT)

The post GPO denies rodent infestation after union claims appeared first on Barbados Today.

Trisha Tannis, president of the Barbados Private Sector Association, has challenged the government to rethink its strategy on healthy eating, arguing that the latest measure to curb non-communicable diseases –  a ‘sodium tax’ on salty snacks – is insufficient without making nutritious alternatives more affordable for low-income families.

“As much as I support the thrust to reduce NCDs—and it is a must—the government has been congratulated for putting that in the crosshairs,” Tannis said. “But I would like to see an equal amount of strategy and emphasis on reducing the cost of healthy foods because when mothers, particularly in the vulnerable economic population, go into the supermarket, they are not making a nutritional choice. They are making an economic choice.”

Her comments come in response to the government’s latest budget proposal, which introduces new taxes on salted snacks such as potato chips and corn curls in an effort to discourage unhealthy eating habits. Tannis argued that this approach remains “ad hoc” and does not provide struggling families with viable alternatives.

“You simply give that woman an impossible decision to make,” she said, further noting the financial strain that many shoppers face when trying to prioritise nutrition over affordability. 

Tannis stressed the need for a targeted strategy that ensures a significant price reduction on essential fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods, suggesting that, just as unhealthy products are being taxed, healthier options should be deliberately made cheaper to empower households to make better dietary choices.

“We need a strategy that says you can pay extra for the bad things, and you can pay less for the good things,” she said. “Essentially, we need to empower households and women who are shopping for their children to make it easy to pick up the healthy things.” 

(SM)

The post BPSA: Make healthy food affordable instead of taxing snacks appeared first on Barbados Today.