Dear The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley and The Honourable Ryan R. Straughn,

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) in partnership with our member organisation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, extends its congratulations to the Government of Barbados for its bold decision to implement a 20 percent excise tax on snacks high in salt and to remove import duties and VAT on selected fruits and vegetables, effective June 1st, 2025. 

The Caribbean has the highest noncommunicable disease (NCD) mortality rate in the Americas, with 40 percent of these deaths occurring prematurely before the age of 70. This disproportionately affects the most productive members of society, leading to severe socioeconomic consequences, particularly as aging populations place increasing strain on already vulnerable economies. According to data from the Health of the Nation Survey (2011), 41 percent of Barbadian adults aged 25 and older are diagnosed with high blood pressure and more than half of all men and women above the age of 45 were hypertensive. 

The introduction of the excise tax on snacks with high salt content is a proactive measure aimed at reducing the consumption of unhealthy, ultra-processed products high in salt, sugar and fat, while the removal of taxes on fruits and vegetables will improve affordability and accessibility to healthier dietary options for all citizens. These interventions, which form a broader strategy to tackle the pressing health and economic impacts of obesity and NCDs in Barbados, complement the 20 percent tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and the National School Nutrition Policy, These policy measures align with the Declaration of Mission Barbados, which sets a target of achieving a 50 percent reduction in new cases of NCDs. Additionally they reflect the government’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030. 

As we build on the progress of the 2007 Port-of-Spain Declaration and look ahead to the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on NCDs in September, strong leadership remains essential in reducing the NCD burden and improving the quality of life for those affected. We trust that the Government of Barbados will continue to demonstrate strong leadership and serve as a model for CARICOM by prioritizing the implementation of cost-effective high-impact interventions outlined in the WHO Best Buys and other evidence-based strategies for NCD prevention. 

Signed 

The President and Board of Directors of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition

Barbados Nation News: Government has been applauded for its good start in taxing salty snacks but it must consider fast food and other restaurants whose salt content is not regulated. 

President of the Barbados Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, Dr Dawn Scantlebury, in reaction to the latest measure to fight the high non communicable diseases, said the strategy to increase the prices leading to what is hoped would be a drop in consumption was a good thing but she wanted some responsibility placed on those who seasoned the foods.

Photo: Barbados Today website

Barbados Today: Government is launching a fresh onslaught on unhealthy snacks, with a 20 per cent tax on salted treats to be levied from this June on a range of popular items. 

Admonishing citizens to live longer and live better, Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Ryan Straughn on Monday gave notice of the new excise tax as he delivered his first Budgetary Proposals in the Lower Chamber of the House of Assembly. 

The high-salt snacks singled out by the Government to be hit with the new tax include Pringles, Lays chips, salted nuts and popcorn, corn curls, Hot Balls, Cheezees, Tortilla chips, salted pretzels and crackers.

HCC: Civil Society Organisation Capacity Building Sessions - Maximizing Social Media for Advocacy: Strategies for Engagement and Impact, Monday March 17th at 11:00 AM - 12:00PM AST.

Objectives: 

• Understand Key META Changes – Gain insights into recent META platform updates and their impact on social media advocacy and engagement.
• Explore Strategies for Content Creation – Learn how to effectively mobilize youth and volunteers to enhance content creation and digital advocacy efforts.
• Reflect on Platform Use – Assess the strengths and challenges of different social media platforms for advocacy and engagement.

HCC Webinar: Changing Systems, Healthier Lives: The Caribbean Journey to the UN High Level Meeting

Webinar Recording Now Available

Click/tap to play

On the 13 March, 2025 in commemoration of World Obesity Day and under the theme “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives”, the HCC hosted a webinar, “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives: The Caribbean Road to UN High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health” attended by over 150 people it covered the following:

• it outlined key advocacy priorities for Caribbean countries in preparation for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs.
• it presented examples of ongoing efforts and success stories in NCD prevention, control, and advocacy within the Caribbean region, highlighting potential progress or setbacks if advocacy priorities are not addressed.
• it explored how attendees can amplify the Regional Advocacy Priorities through their local, regional and global work.

Click/tap to play

HSFB: On March 5, 2025, the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados’ Childhood Obesity Prevention Programme held an event to officially launch the "Protect Us!" mass media campaign which directly calls for the ban on marketing of unhealthy ultra-processed products in schools and in recognition of World Obesity Day (March 4, 2025). The campaign's slogan is "Protect Us! It’s time to ban marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks in schools” and calls for policy makers to enforce the restriction of marketing unhealthy food and drinks to children in schools. It reinforces the fact that unhealthy foods and drinks have been removed from the school environment since the implementation of the 2023 Barbados National School Nutrition Policy, however marketing continues.

The primary campaign video shows a school—aged girl, “Rosie” who questions the presence of such marketing activities amidst the steps taken to create a healthier school environment. It highlights sponsorship of sporting activities and branded stationery which have been observed as key marketing initiatives in Barbados. A final call is made for children to be protected in schools, underscoring that 31% of children in Barbados are overweight/obese which can lead to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases when they grow older. 

The campaign is co-branded by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), the Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR), and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition. The campaign is aired on TV, radio, print media, on social media and outdoor advertising channels.

GIS: The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados Inc., the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the Ministry of Educational Transformation have partnered on the Feeding Healthy Futures campaign. This national campaign will start with a six-week digital awareness initiative, which is aimed at increasing public engagement and understanding of the Barbados School Nutrition Policy. The policy was introduced in April 2023 to enhance the health and well-being of school children.

L to R: Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. The Most Honourable Kenneth George; Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr. Lisa Indar; and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Wayne Marshall, speaking to the media during a briefing on CARPHA’s upcoming 69th Annual Health Research Conference. 

Photo: M. Rollock/BGIS

GIS: A diverse group of researchers, policymakers, and health professionals from the region and across the globe will gather in Barbados from May 7 to 9, for the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA’s) 69th Annual Health Research Conference. 

During a media briefing on Wednesday, representatives from CARPHA and the Ministry of Health and Wellness shed some light on the importance of the conference, themed “Mental Health: The Hidden Pandemic”. 

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. The Most Honourable Kenneth George, disclosed that during and since the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials had seen a 100 per cent increase in persons seeking mental health services, particularly younger people.

PAHO: Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT - Washington, DC time) for the launch of the virtual course "Better Care for Noncommunicable Diseases." The webinar is primarily aimed at primary care health teams, including physicians, nurses, health promoters, community workers, and other professionals responsible for the prevention, detection, and management of NCDs in PHC services. It is also open to health policymakers, NCD program managers, academics, civil society representatives, and researchers, who play a key role in the implementation and scalability of PHC strengthening strategies in the Region.

World Obesity Day Review

On Thursday March 2, 2023 the Healthy Caribbean Coalition hosted, “Childhood Obesity in the Caribbean – How do we care for the 1 in 3?” – a webinar aimed to create a space for persons with lived experience, advocates and practitioners to discuss childhood obesity treatment and management in the Caribbean.