DO NOT BOW to pressure.
That advice was issued to Government yesterday by representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation in Barbados, Dr Godfrey Xuereb, in response to lobbying by industry players for the reversal of the ten per cent tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
During a public lecture on the measure hosted during the fifth annual Faculty of Medical Sciences Research symposium, the official pledged that the organisations would continue to stand with Government, and he urged civil society to do the same.
At the same time, he indicated his regret that the full impact of the tax to improve health and change behaviours among the populace was not being felt because the full cost is not being passed on to consumers. (WILLCOMM)
Please read the full story in today’s Saturday Sun, or in the eNATION edition.