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Legislation to ban public smoking delayed

Apr 21, 2009 News

Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has said that the legislation which will officially ban smoking in the transportation system will not be tabled in the National Assembly this year.
He told Kaieteur News yesterday that the ministry is still in discussions with various groups as it relates to the formation of the legislation, and since it is a lengthy process, that has to go through national consultation and then receive the approval of cabinet, it would be impossible for it to reach parliament for this year.
Recently, Minister Ramsammy had encouraged persons to commence the debate on the issue so that the Health Ministry could take the relevant steps in curbing the problem.
The legislation will seek to ban smoking in public places, including the transportation system, as according to Minister Ramsammy, Guyanese do not recognize how dangerous the practice as well as the substance can be.
Currently, the use of tobacco continues to be an area of major focus for the health ministry and in this regard, Minister Ramsammy had urged the public to begin the debate and join the advocacy on encouraging people to stop smoking.
He explained if Guyanese start to voice their opinions on whether or not the government should ban smoking in public places, then his ministry will move in the direction of having the relevant laws in place to address the issue.
Currently, smoking has been banned in all health facilities and compounds in the country.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education has a ministerial directive to ban smoking in educational institutions.
However, Minister Ramsammy is advocating the need to address what takes place at the Universities, workplaces, restaurants and bars, where there are frequently large numbers of people, who are exposed to second hand smoking.
He emphasized that it is a big issue, and the people need to start the discussion.
So far, nine countries around the world have entirely banned the use of tobacco in public places, while other countries have instituted limited bans.
Partial banning on the use of the substance has been instituted in fourteen countries in the Americas, 30 countries in the African region and 19 countries in the Western Pacific.

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