Health rights group in Abdool-Richards: “Please do not join Angostura board” | Additional news

Trinidad and Tobago Noncommunicable Disease Alliance “Alliance TTNCD” urges Senior Medical Officer of Health, Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards, to reconsider her appointment as a director on the board of Angostura Holdings Ltd (AHL).

TTNCD Alliance President Karen Sealy said being a board member of a company that promotes the sale and consumption of alcohol, which has adverse effects on physical and mental health, cannot be reconciled with Abdool-Richards’ role as health officer.

Abdool-Richards was appointed to the AHL Board of Directors, effective November 16. She has been criticized by the opposition for the appointment of opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar questioning her independence and her ability to manage the Covid-19 crisis while serving on several boards.

Abdool-Richards is also a member of the boards of the National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd (NIPDEC) and the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA).

Defending his appointment last Saturday, Abdool-Richards said: “I do not consider it inappropriate to sit on the board of directors of a publicly traded company. My employment conditions do not prevent me from being a member of the board of directors of a listed company.

In a statement released yesterday, however, Sealy said it was the duty of the TTNCD Alliance to warn the public of the dangers of consuming tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed foods.

She said she had no doubts that Abdool-Richards was qualified for the job at AHL, but that as a health official, Abdool-Richards should not be associated with such a harmful product as alcohol.

“Alcohol consumption is one of the risk factors for NCDs, with priority given by the Department of Health to improve the health of our population,” Sealy noted.

“Additionally, Dr Richards in recent months has become a very visible public face and voice of the Department of Health and her precautionary advice regarding the Covid-19 pandemic means that she is a leading figure. authority whose opinions are highly respected.

“That may have been one of the reasons for her appointment, but it is also of great concern that in her role as a director to ensure the best interests of AHL, she can be seen as the champion of consumerism and consumerism. selling alcohol while advocating for greater personal responsibilities and public health measures to combat Covid-19 and its NCD-related co-morbidities, ”Sealy said.

Sealy said it is a matter of “great regret” that Abdool-Richards’ appointment may have the unintended effect of weakening national resolve to tackle NCDs.

“On behalf of the members of the TTNCD Alliance … we urge Dr Abdool-Richards to reconsider his decision,” Sealy said.

The TTNCD Alliance includes several organizations aimed at tackling NCDs, including the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society, the Chest and Heart Association of T&T, the Diabetes Association of T&T, the T&T Heart Foundation, Heartbeat International of T&T, the T&T Coalition for Tobacco Control, the Caribbean Sport and Development Agency, the T&T Association of Nutritionists and Dietitians, and the T&T Family Planning Association.