By YOURI KEMP
Tribune Business Reporter
ykemp@tribunemedia.net
AN ICE cream parlour yesterday said it is “getting into the swing” of things for 2023 despite talk of the Government implementing new taxes targeting sugar and salt.
Shaquile Coleby, co-owner of Pulpy Frozen Desserts, told Tribune Business that the New Year has started well and added: “Right now, we’re just focusing on the walk-in customers. We do marketing and stuff on social media. I mean, we attract lots of students and stuff, but the walk-ins are our real customer base.” As for the possibility of a sugar and salt tax, he added: “I honestly haven’t done a lot of research on it. I think I just heard about it on Wednesday.” Dr Michael Darville, minister for health and wellness, earlier this week said the Government plans to implement new legislation that will tax sugar and excess salt as well as try to eliminate trans fats being imported into The Bahamas. He unveiled the plan while explaining the importance of health and wellness in the fight against chronic non-communicable diseases, which have a high prevalence in The Bahamas according to a recent survey. “I’m so pleased to say that in the last Budget I put in a new line item for health and wellness, and very soon I will be launching my health and wellness initiative,” he added.
“It will extend for our workers in the Department of Public Health and the PHA and, by extension, to all ministries and hopefully, very shortly, we will be able to get to the grassroots. It’s important for us to preach health and wellness because we did a STEPS study that was completed, and it clearly indicated where we are as a nation in terms of our health.
“We have the highest incidence of obesity in the region. We have the highest incidence of diabetes and hypertension. We have the highest incidence of renal failure and we must do better as a country.” Whether this will put a halt to Mr Coleby’s expansion ambitions for 2023 remains to be seen. He said: “I think we plan on launching some food items on the menu, along with a few promotions and possibly going to the Family Islands to do some pop-ups, so it’s looking really good for 2023.”
A Savory Snacks representative, speaking under condition of anonymity, said business is “up and down” with commerce just starting to pick up for the New Year.
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