Interviews and photos by Mandy Thompson Shakisa Harvey
This week we asked persons in the street for their thoughts on smoking in public places and what they think should be done about it. Their comments follow:
Jamal Goodluck, public sector worker- ‘It should be banned because it’s unhealthy. I did not acquiesce to people smoking. If you want to smoke do it in your private space. I believe that a smoking area should be in public places because it is our constitutional right to do what we want but it should not infringe on other people’s right to inhale clean air.’
Adrian Alfred, public sector worker- ‘No it should not be banned because it is a constitutional right to freedom. People should also know that the space we share, others share it too and second-hand smoking is a health hazard. Some people are not tolerant to the smoke because some of them may be suffering from asthma so you have to be tolerant to those things.’
Denise Williams- ‘Ban it. Smoking is not good for health but some people ignore that. I can’t breathe with the cigarette smoke when people smoke next to me. It looks so bad to walk down the road and see people smoking.’
Delroy Peters, overseas-based Guyanese – ‘Well it’s very dangerous, second-hand smoke is dangerous. Being a person who is studying respiratory therapy, I know it could give you cancer and a lot of other diseases. If you smoke in public places and people inhale it they can be exposed to cancer and they are not smokers. The persons who are smoking are affecting other people. I don’t think they should necessarily ban it but put some wall. In certain places they should not smoke. Overseas you can’t smoke in public spaces like in the city period.’
Jullieanna Jones- ‘I think it’s wrong because some people are too young. I think they should ban it and have specific areas in public spaces where
people are allowed to smoke. The smell and so bothers me in buses.’
Kevin Adams- ‘Smoking in public places is very bad for everybody and should be banned. It’s not good for everyone else. It is more dangerous to the person next to you. Never mind that I smoke. If you’re in the bank and you need to smoke you should go outside.’
Shemika London, vendor – ‘I think they should ban it because it’s not healthy for people. There are some people who like it as a hobby. If you get into the buses it affects you. Anywhere you go it affects you. So they should ban it as far as I am concerned.’
Patrick Wilson, vendor – ‘I am a smoker, but I do not smoke in public. I don’t. I respect people’s health. Everybody has a choice about what they do. We choose to smoke. Others don’t. So it is not fair to make them feel uncomfortable or affected by our smoking. But also, the government or nobody can’t tell people not to smoke, because as I said, it is their choice. But what they could do is put up signs, where people could see, saying that you can’t smoke in certain places. People smoke for a reason. For me, I do it to ease my problems. So you can’t tell them to stop smoking, just that they need to curb the practice in public places.’
Allison Johnson, housewife- ‘I disagree with smoking because it’s damaging to your health. Smoking on the whole is not good, whether or not in public. The smoke could affect children. It is just not comfortable to be around. I think it should really be banned. It bothers people.’
Nigel Bryan, immigration officer/athlete- ‘That thing is a nasty habit I think people should not be forced to deal with. I do not mind if you want to smoke in your own home or any other private setting. That is your lifestyle, your personal choice, not mine or anybody else’s. The public
should not be inconvenienced by your actions. It is really not nice to be in a bus or some enclosed place and have to deal with that smoke. Definitely the government should create no-smoking zones with signs and so to deal with the issue.’
