CARICOM should increase taxes on tobacco - Ramsammy

CARICOM should increase taxes on tobacco – Ramsammy

Jun 29, 2011 News

Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has suggested that Guyana and other CARICOM countries increase taxes on tobacco so as to limit the usage of the harmful product.
Dr. Ramsammy made those remarks yesterday at the ‘Data Dissemination Workshop: Guyana Meeting on Tobacco Surveillance and Policy Development’ held at De Impeccable Banquet Hall, Georgetown.
He explained that research has shown that globally the cost of tobacco has an impact on smoking; because of taxation when the cost of tobacco increases the product consumption reduces.
Dr. Ramsammy noted that the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommends that 75 percent tax be placed on tobacco products, for instance, if the final price is $100 then tax is $75 and the rest of cost is $25.
However, in Guyana’s case the product is taxed at 20 percent, while some countries in the Region levy 25 to 30 percent. He emphasized that Guyana alone cannot raise its taxes as retailers may go to Suriname and purchase tobacco. To tackle this situation, countries need to unite.
The Health Minister revealed that Guyana has a 15 percent prevalence rate of smokers but while this may be low globally, it is unacceptable. In addition, he stressed that smoking is a reckless behaviour that endangers the lives of citizens, with 60 percent of the population being exposed to secondary smoking.
Although the world has agreed that tobacco is a killer, consensus has not been met on how to limit or restrict its availability to people, and this is irresponsible, Dr. Ramsammy stated.
From various surveys done it was revealed that the prevalence of smoking in this country is not unlike the global picture. Three percent of adult women in Guyana, ranging from 15 years and above, are smokers. A closer look into that data would reveal that women between 40 and 48 years of age reflect the 9 percent of female smokers worldwide. Moreover, 31 percent of the adult male population in Guyana smoke and globally this figure is more than 30 percent.
Dr. Adriana Blanco, Advisor, Tobacco Control of PAHO stated that although Guyana’s prevalence rate is relatively low there is still need to contain the use of tobacco. She noted that from surveys it was observed that youths in Guyana are smoking at an early age therefore that is an area of concern.

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CARICOM should increase taxes on tobacco – Ramsammy

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