AS A sexually active person in my mid-30s, I am concerned about the cost of condoms in Guyana. The condoms that are my preferred brand are not distributed free, and those that are sold in shops and pharmacies have Value Added Tax (VAT). I find it strange that condoms should attract VAT, especially if they are being promoted as a means to reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Why are condoms placed in the same category of harmful substances like alcohol and cigarettes, with VAT, attached?  Those commodities can harm the body, while on the contrary, condoms protect the users and their partners, and therefore should not carry VAT. I would be encouraged to see the new government address this issue with urgency, since having VAT on condoms discourages the public from buying and hence using them.