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Demerara Tobacco Ltd not invited to consultation meetings – says Public Health Minister

Apr 26, 2016 News

The Demerara Tobacco LTD was purposefully left out of the consultation sessions for the new tobacco legislation. This legislation is seeking to impose a ban on public smoking and to prohibit advertisement and sponsorship from the tobacco industry, Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton, said yesterday.
Dr. Norton, in an interview with the Kaieteur News, stated that Guyana had signed onto the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Part of that agreement entails that the ministry or any organization which proposes to impose the legislation, should not be in consultation with the tobacco industry.
“The Ministry does not have to speak with them. This is not about their constitutional rights; it’s about who is affected. The tobacco company is speaking of their rights as a local company but don’t the non-smokers have rights also?”
Managing Director of the tobacco company, Maurlain Argyle-Kirton, had stated that the company was excluded from the consultation process for the drafting of the bill.
“Unfortunately and disturbingly, Demerara Tobacco has not been consulted despite many consultations on the Bill over the years,” she had stated, citing that the legislation was heavily flawed.
She had complained that despite many attempts to have engagement with the Public Health Ministry, they were denied.
Thus, she questioned why is a legislation that is so important to Guyana’s economy and public health, should be managed so “confidentially.”
In 2005, Guyana assented to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and promised to impose regulations for tobacco consumption and its trade. National consultations were held on the proposed tobacco legislation and the Bill was passed approved by Cabinet a few weeks ago.
It is expected to be tabled in the next parliamentary sitting.
Dr Norton, nonetheless, said that the Bill is not managed secretively and it is in no way “draconian”.
“Guyana has been left behind when it comes to passing the tobacco legislation while other countries have moved ahead. But I want everyone to know that we are serious about this and will live up to convention’s stipulations,” he asserted.
Every year, tobacco kills six million people—600,000 non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke and 5.4 million smokers.
It is said to be the single legal consumer product that kills up to half of its users when used exactly as intended by the manufacturer, costing the global economy an estimated US$200 billion each year.
Last year, the local tobacco company raked in $5 billion in revenue for Guyana. However, Pan American Health Organization Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow stated that the revenue brought in from the tobacco industry does not compensate for the amount of money government spends on people living with lung disease or lung cancer.
He also stated that the Framework Convention on tobacco stipulates that PAHO/WHO and persons who want to enact the draft bill should not be in consultation with the tobacco company.
“When you want to censor somebody you don’t go and discuss with them why you want to censor them,” he stressed, adding: “You don’t go to bed with your enemy.”

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