Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley appear to be obsessed with sticking their noses in people’s kitchens, a place where they clearly have no business.
This was the claim made by Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in response to Deyalsingh urging the population to consume less salt as there were unhealthy repercussions regarding too much salt intake.
At the opening of Wards 18 and 20 at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope last Friday Deyalsingh said the required salt intake for an adult was five grammes.
His statements came days after Persad-Bissessar, at a media briefing, raised concerns about the reintroduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) on several basic food items including salt which she described as one of those essential ingredients in people’s diet. The former PM also noted that salt had become important as it was a symbol of the Indian revolt against British rule.
“When the Congress Party encouraged everyone to make salt and defy the British; Mahatma Gandhi himself staged the famous ‘salt march’ and made salt from the Indian ocean. Unfortunately, the Minister of Health misunderstood the symbolism and chose instead to take issue with salt in our diet,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“What is worse, is that the Rowley Government is taking this position in order to justify the reintroduction of VAT on basic food items that were zero rated during my administration. Our rationale for doing it was to make food for the less fortunate in our society more affordable,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She also accused the Government of “squeezing every penny from the poor” and trying to justify their actions by “preaching” about health issues.
“If Mr Deyalsingh and Dr Rowley are so concerned about the health of citizens that they are taxing salt to discourage its use perhaps they should look at the various fast food outlets—including those doing business in our hospitals—where every item is a threat to healthy lifestyles,” Persad-Bissessar added.
Reiterating her position and that of the UNC that the VAT increase was unfair as it targeted the poor, the Opposition Government to revisit the list of items subject to a 12.5 per cent increase come February 1.
“There is still time to do it. Let me make it abundantly clear that when the PNM launched its election manifesto promising to reduce VAT to 12.5 per cent it did not give the slightest hint of picking the pockets of the poor. The reintroduction of VAT on hundreds of basic food items is a con job,” Persad-Bissessar added.