Black Immigrant Daily News

Press Release:

The Antigua and Barbuda Pharmacy Council and by extension the Ministry of Health, Wellness & The Environment would like to advise the public of some very important issues of concern relating to three (3) products that can result in serious health challenges if consumed.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert on the use of Kingdom Honey Royal Honey VIP, a product that is marketed primarily on the internet for sexual enhancement.  Analysis of this product has confirmed the presence of “Sildenafil”, the active ingredient in “Viagra”.

The public particularly individuals taking medication containing nitrates eg. Nitroglycerine are advised not to consume this product because it may result in the lowering of their blood pressure to dangerous levels.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also issued an alert on the use of contaminated cough and cold syrups made by an Indian drug manufacturer, Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

The Authorities are investigating the deaths of dozens of children in Gambia from kidney injuries possibly linked to the contaminated cough and cold products. The products implicated are:

Promethazine Oral Solution
Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup
Makoff Baby Cough Syrup
Magrip N Cold Syrup

Laboratory analysis revealed the presence of unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol both of which can be toxic when consumed.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in the USA has signaled the alarm having noticed an emerging trend by drug traffickers to deliberately drive addiction amongst children and young adults by marketing “Fentanyl” a synthetic opioid, as brightly colored candies.  “Rainbow Fentanyl” as the products are called are marketed as pills, powder or blocks and resembles sidewalk chalk.

Fentanyl is fifty (50) times more potent than Heroin and one hundred (100) times more potent than Morphine which contributes to its highly addictive potential.

The Antigua and Barbuda Pharmacy Council will continue to monitor these developing public health challenges and work along with its partners particularly the Customs and Excise Division to ensure that the products identified are not imported into the state of Antigua and Barbuda.

In the event that any of these products are already in circulation and consumed members of the public are advised to discontinue their use immediately and call the Ministry of Health at 462-5522 Ext 240 or have a discussion with their health care provider.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Rédaction web
Vendredi 7 Octobre 2022 – 18h43

 Les jurés ont rendu leur verdict dans le procès des auteurs du meurtre de Dimitri Zami. Les peines se rapprochent de celles demandées par l’avocate générale hier.

Sur le même sujet

  Assises: L’avocate générale …

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Financial analyst Dennis Chung is suggesting that the recent ruling by the Revenue Court, which effectively means security guards are now entitled to the benefits afforded to persons categorized as employees, could work against them as companies seek to straddle the increased cost of providing the service.

The increased costs could see security firms cutting staff as their clients adopt technological solutions to satisfy their security needs instead of manpower, according to Chung said.

“I think effectively, it is going to work more against the security guards themselves than the actual companies because they will find something else that has a greater return on capital,” Chung reasoned.

The Jamaica Society for Industrial Security (JSIS) has signalled that the cost of private security services could jump by at least 50 per cent following the recent landmark ruling by the high court that security guards are to be treated as employees and not contract workers.

“People are going to be faced with a decision for their companies. If their clients are not willing to take on the added cost, then there will be no reason to employ someone,” the financial analyst suggested.

The court ruled that security guards engaged by Marksman Limited are employees and not contract workers and that the company should begin paying its portion of National Housing Trust (NHT) statutory contributions immediately.

The NHT challenged the private security firms in court following their refusal to accept the Trust’s declaration that the security guards they engaged are employees and not contract workers.

“I am not surprised about the ruling because the labour laws do say that if someone is continuously on a contract, then effectively you treat them like an employee. So all the statutory payments are to be made,” Chung said.”

The employee benefits such as paid vacation and sick leave, which the companies are now expected to adhere to, will likely see some companies cutting jobs, he said.

“Depending on how much the costs go up, you may find that they may be cutting back on the number of people they employ,” he said.

“It’s the same argument with the minimum wage when people say it should be increased. But how many people will lose their jobs? That is the balancing act that the government has to make … because it is based on affordability,” Chung added.

“Remember that money always follows capital, and people will always find ways to organize themselves and make money. It could be as simple as saying: ‘this is not a profitable industry anymore, let me sell out and go somewhere else,” he reasoned.

By Tameka Gordon

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