Offniel Lamont | CARICOM, children are waiting: it’s time to act on facts

Across the Caribbean, the voices of young people are growing louder. In classrooms, on stages, and now through the ‘Hope for the Future’ campaign, we’re united in one demand: healthy school food environments — not tomorrow, now.

We live in a region where 1 in 3 children are living with overweight or obesity, where rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are climbing, and where our school canteens are overflowing with ultra-processed, sugar-loaded, salt-saturated products that set us up for a lifetime of poor health. We’re watching friends get sick. We’re losing family members too soon. And we’re tired of being targeted for profit while leaders hesitate.

NOT FAST ENOUGH

Let’s give credit where it’s due — the region has made strides toward healthier school food environments. The journey to combat NCDs began with the Port-of-Spain Declaration in 2007, during which the heads of government of CARICOM officially acknowledged the significant threat posed by NCDs and made their first regional commitment to preventing childhood obesity.

In 2016, Barbados exemplified leadership by implementing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), thereby initiating a pivotal shift at the national level. At the 2018 CARICOM Heads of Government Conference, leaders took it a step further by officially endorsing the goal of “implementing policies geared to preventing childhood obesity, including health-promoting school environments”.

This formal recognition underscored the need to translate regional will into national action. Following this, Jamaica introduced interim school nutrition guidelines in 2018, which included restrictions on sugary drinks within schools, which stimulated further dialogue and engagement throughout the region.

In 2022, Barbados officially approved National School Nutrition Policy (NSNP), which came into effect during the 2022–2023 academic year. This comprehensive policy applies to all educational institutions, ranging from preschool to tertiary, and establishes robust nutrition standards. It prohibits the marketing of unhealthy foods, incorporates physical activity into the school curriculum, and promotes health literacy within school communities.

Following this initiative, Jamaica approved its own NSNP in 2025, which is set to be implemented over five years, similar to the one passed in Barbados. In addition to these advancements, Belize, St Lucia, St Vincent, and Grenada are making significant strides in implementing policies and relevant regulations to create healthy food environments in schools. The 2023 Bridgetown Declaration underscores the commitment of leaders to prioritise healthier school food environments within the political agenda. While these initiatives are praiseworthy, it is essential to recognise that numerous children across various countries continue to face vulnerabilities related to unhealthy food environments, even where a range of policies has been established or enacted.

We celebrate these milestones — but let’s be clear: until every Caribbean school has a safe food environment, progress remains incomplete. Policies or laws without enforcement are simply a well-intended idea. What is needed is effective implementation, consistent enforcement, and the courage to take bold action.

THE REAL BARRIER

We know what’s stalling this change: corporate pressure. Ultra-processed food companies are powerful, wealthy, and persuasive. They fund events. They woo decision-makers. They threaten economic fallout.

But, what about the fallout of inaction? Poor diets are now the leading risk factor for death and disability globally. Our region is drowning in preventable illness. What will it take to put people — especially children — over profit?

With initiatives like ‘Hope for the Future’ and the For the Children campaign, the youth no longer just asking to be heard — they are leading. From Belize to Trinidad and Tobago up to Jamaica, St Lucia, Grenada, and The Bahamas — Caribbean youth are ready to fight the good fight — or, as neighbours in the US would say, “get in good trouble”. From every coast and classroom, we’re handing over the facts to leaders, calling on them to “Act on Facts”.

The demand is clear and urgent: enact robust laws to protect our school food environments and ban the predatory marketing of unhealthy foods to children. This is our region, and this is our future — we will not back down. Regulating food environments is not merely about improving diets; it directly enhances concentration, behaviour, attendance, and academic success. These measures will also reduce long-term healthcare costs and stimulate local economies by incorporating locally produced and sourced food and supporting local farmers. This is not just an investment in nutrition; it’s an investment in healthier, more resilient communities. So, why delay?

CHALENGE TO POLICYMAKERS

Youth advocates are calling on CARICOM leaders to:

1. Regulate the sale and marketing of ultra-processed products in and around schools;

2. Implement national school nutrition policies that are evidence-based and enforceable;

3. Invest in healthy school meal programmes that use local, fresh ingredients;

4. Hold corporations accountable for marketing harmful products to kids;

5. Bring youth to the decision-making table — we are experts in our own lived experiences.

At the 49th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Montego Bay, Jamaica, attention was given to critical regional issues. However, it is concerning that health, particularly the prevention and control of NCDs, was glaringly missing from the official communiqué. As youth, we insist: how can we tackle crime, climate change, or economic instability when our people are suffering, dying, and living with preventable diseases?

Health is the bedrock of any society. If we fail to prioritise it, we jeopardise everything else. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) has expressed concern regarding this oversight and has urged leaders to revitalise the legacy of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in taking decisive action on health issues.

This appeal is particularly pertinent in light of the upcoming Fourth UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health (HLM4), scheduled for September 25. The imperative to lead and enact decisive action is upon us; this is a critical moment for transformative change, even as the window for meaningful action narrows. Health is not merely an essential right; it is the cornerstone of discussions and the foundation upon which all progress is built. Without prioritising health, substantial development remains unattainable, for it is intricately woven into the fabric of societal advancement.

Youth of the Caribbean are acting, watching, waiting, and organising for real, lasting change. But, here’s the thing: children can’t eat commitments. Policies sitting in draft folders won’t clean up our cafeterias or stop vending machines from pushing processed snacks. Junk food shouldn’t be the loudest voice in our schools. Children should. As we approach the HLM4, where CARICOM member states will participate, the world will be watching. So will we.

Offniel Lamont is a sports medicine physiotherapist and public health youth advocate with Healthy Caribbean Youth (HCY), Jamaica Health Advocates – Youth Arm (JHAYA) and Fix My Food Jamaica (UNICEF Jamaica).