Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM
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Absence of regulations delays ‘smoking ban’
Public health officials are still crafting regulations which will pave the way for the activation of the much anticipated ban on smoking in public places across Guyana.
Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, informed Kaieteur News that the regulations remain on track to allow for the ban to take full effect before the end of the year, but did not commit a specific date.
“We had a little setback because we sought to address some other issues, but presently they are full speed ahead on that [regulations]. We are hoping that very soon, we can have that first draft so we can be able to start looking at it collectively with all our partners and have that laid in the National Assembly,” Lawrence stated.
“One of the stumbling blocks encountered is that a senior staff overseeing the regulations had to take some time off.”
On July 27, following a robust debate that lasted several hours, the National Assembly passed the Act with 32 Legislators offering support, one dissenting vote and 23 abstentions. In August 2017, the Tobacco Control Act became law after passage by the National Assembly and assent by the President.
Lawrence, by an order published in the Gazette, brought the Act into force on December 11, 2017.
Initially, enforcement will focus on the tobacco industry. Once regulations for tobacco products’ packaging and labelling are passed, the tobacco industry will have nine months to comply with the regulations.
Enforcement of no smoking laws in places where smoking is prohibited will not be implemented until the publication of ‘no-smoking’ signs regulations and sensitisation with the business community so that they understand their role with regard to compliance.
Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence
The Ministry is expected to inform the public as implementation of the various aspects of the law take effect.
The legislation provides for a maximum fine of $10,000 for a person who smokes in a place where smoking is prohibited. Where the person commits the offence a subsequent time, the maximum fine is $20,000. No imprisonment is prescribed for the offence.
According to the stipulations, the Act provides for a ban on smoking in indoor public places, indoor work places and public transportation, and only in specified outdoor places including the premises of schools and health facilities, and places for the commercial service of food and drinks.
The Tobacco Control Act regulates where persons can smoke tobacco products in order to protect others from exposure to dangerous secondhand smoke, but it does not ban smoking.
Guyana has joined its Caribbean Community (CARICOM) sister countries, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and Suriname by passing tobacco control legislation to safeguard the health of present and future generations from the devastating health and socio-economic effects of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
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