It is not too late…DEMTOCO wants Tobacco Control Bill sent to Special Select Committee

Jul 29, 2017 News

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It appears that the debate on the controversial Tobacco Control Bill which was passed on Thursday night is not quite over.
In fact, the Bill has caught the immediate attention of several companies in Guyana, one of which includes the Demerara Tobacco Company Limited (DEMTOCO).
The company via a press release, yesterday, said that it supports the regulation of the tobacco industry and the government’s obligations under the Framework Convention in Tobacco Control, to which it is a signatory.
It however argued that many clauses in the Bill in infringe on the rights of ordinary citizens and discriminates against many who are seeking to earn their livelihood from the trading of a legal product. DEMTOCO in this regard also stressed that it remains opposed to the ban of selling cigarettes in trays.
The company said that it is disappointed that it was not given the full opportunity to have formal consultations so as to advance its views, aimed principally at attaining balance and removing elements of discrimination and other measures that are too draconian in their nature.
Though the Bill is now passed and awaits the assent of the President, the company maintains that it is still not too late to send the Bill to a Special Select Committee of the Parliament where some of the contentious issues can be more robustly reviewed. In this regard, the company highlighted that this was done in Jamaica, after the government passed a similar Bill.
Notwithstanding its views, the Company said that it intends to comply with the new laws and will be making every effort to educate its trade and retail partners, the consumers and the public as to what constitutes compliance as per the new legislation.
It said, “Of significant importance, to the consumers, the sellers and the distributor of cigarette products, is the fact that this bill passed yesterday, does not come into effect until some nine months later. So, it is business as usual while the company, industry and country prepare for an effective start-up date of around May 2018.”
Over the next nine months therefore, the Company said that it will be working and communicating with its consumers, retailers, wholesalers and the distributors to provide adequate information and guidance during this transitional period.
The Tobacco Control Bill was moved in the House on Thursday by Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence.
The Minister emphasized that the Bill is crucial as it represents a further step in protecting the health of the nation which remains a priority for the Government.
Lawrence noted that the passage of the Bill would be in keeping with Government’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. One of the SDGs speaks to ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages,
The Minister said that her Ministry is mandated to ensure this goal is achieved and therefore stressed that the Bill be considered and passed.
The Minister explained that the Bill provides for the adoption and implementation of tobacco control policies in accordance with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Convention aims to protect present and future generations from the devastating harms of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
The Minister said that the Bill also seeks to prevent tobacco use by minors; protect workers and the public from exposure to tobacco smoke; prevent exposure of the public, especially minors, to tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; enhance public awareness of the hazards of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke; and ensure that every person is provided with effective health warnings about the harms of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
The politician also stated that the Bill intends to regulate the tobacco industry, its products and sales; protect public health policies from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry; and provide for other related matters.
Lawrence insisted that the tobacco epidemic affects a nation’s economy by placing a lot of pressure on the public health system to deal with related chronic diseases.
She said that effective legislation will help to control the epidemic. Furthermore, the Parliamentarian sought to clarify that the Bill does not purport to ban the sale of tobacco products completely, except in the case of health and education facilities, government facilities and recreation and entertainment facilities.
The Minister said that nothing different is observed in sister countries. Additionally, Lawrence clarified that the average man or woman selling these products in the market or street would not be displaced by the Bill.
She insisted that there would not be a fall off in sales in the near future. In the long term, as the next generation sees these products becoming less popular, Lawrence said that the distributors will be forced to diversify.

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