Almost three years after he boldly announced that all schools and other buildings which fall under the Ministry of Education would be no-smoking zones, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy is still in a fog over tobacco control. This was after a similar grand announcement that the Ministry of Health and all of its buildings were designated smoke-free zones. The total effect of these declarations has been the putting up of billboards outside the so-designated buildings. And perhaps those who use the buildings observe the no-smoking rules. Still it all amounts to a piecemeal approach to an issue that needs addressing firmly.
The Minister of Health’s reference to being disappointed that standards were not yet in place and about the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce still consulting on the size of picture messages on cigarette packets appear to be so much more hot air, so perhaps we should hold our collective breaths when the minister expounds on this particular subject.
Minister Ramsammy has also announced yet again that the fight for tobacco control will be more robust in 2010 with an intense focus on labelling and packaging. But given that he obviously has to wait until the Commerce Ministry, as well as other arms of the government perhaps, conclude their consulting, then maybe he is not really in a position to make such sweeping statements until he has conferred and arrived at a consensus with his Cabinet colleagues, some of whom could be spokespersons for the tobacco companies.
The minister at the same forum, urged Caricom to address the issue of regional standards for tobacco control, calling it unacceptable that there are no regional standards and claiming that the entities tasked with working on the standards in the region are citing intellectual property rights as a restriction toward implementation. Yet in the same breath, he acknowledged that Trinidad and Tobago had legislated a public ban on smoking – the lack of regional standards seems to matter not one iota to public health officials in the twin-island country.
In addition, the Trinidad and Tobago government, in its most recent budget which was presented some three months ago, placed a whopping tax on tobacco and its by-products, despite dissent from some opposition quarters and tobacco interests.
The tobacco companies say that smoking and tobacco use are a lifestyle choice. T&T and some other countries that have taxed and placed public bans on the product have responded saying in effect that no one should impose his/her personal lifestyle choice on any other individual or group.
Over the last weekend, Lady Gaga, a hugely controversial and immensely popular, but fairly new pop singer, tested her popularity by lighting up on stage at an indoor arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where she was performing. She immediately incurred the wrath of the authorities there and it seemed more than likely that she would be fined, since BC has strict anti-smoking regulations, which prohibit smoking in indoor public areas.
Meanwhile, Guyana continues to huff and puff on the issue with Dr Ramsammy only able to say feebly that local legislation would be introduced in time and consultations were yet to be held. Health conscious Guyanese have no choice but to take it all in and then wait to exhale.
