The Ministry of Health recently received a petition from more than 258 persons in Grand Bahama, who wish to have smoking banned in workplaces, informed the Minister of Health, Dr. Marcus Bethel on Friday.
According to Dr. Bethel, the Inter-Ministerial Core Group for Tobacco Control Matters is expected to design a research survey in collaboration with the Department of Labour to determine and recommend a timetable for the achievement of this recommendation.
“This is a matter that has to go before government and the legislature before certain things are put in place, but like every interest group in The Bahamas, their views have been expressed very forcefully and of course their views will be taken into consideration and also the views from the business sector,” said Dr. Bethel.
Statistics show that of the 360,298,000 persons in The Bahamas, 18 per cent of men and three per cent of women are smokers.
They also show that last year alone, The Bahamas has imported 872,000 cases of tobacco, with a street value of over $6 million.
The Health Minister, who spoke from the Ministry of Health about “World No Tobacco Day,” which was celebrated on Friday, explained that in September of last year, he invited Cabinet to agree to the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Core Group for Tobacco Control Matters within the Ministry of Health. He said that he has asked his Permanent Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer to Co-chair this group and various ministers have been invited to name representatives to participate.
“Already, the office of the Attorney General has prepared drafts of rules and regulations, which would allow for the introduction of smoke-free spaces in public schools and extend the smoke free rule to all government airports,” he said.
Dr. Bethel stated however that on the global scene, there are tremendous lobbies to keep tobacco use alive, as there are major industries built around tobacco. He noted that oftentimes, conventions are “watered down” in order to protect certain interests.
“This is a problem because we have a health issue and we also have in industrial economic issue, but if it was up to me, all cigarettes should be banned and not allowed into the country, but we have to work in a global economy and there are certain conditions that have to be met, but the reality is that smoking is dangerous to your health,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister said the World Health Organization (WHO) has set aside today to focus on the dangers to human health posed by tobacco use, as well as the dangers posed to health for all persons from passive smoking.
The theme for this year is “Tobacco kills, don’t be duped, it should not be advertised, glamorised or subsidised.” WHO is calling on the entertainment industry, in particular the world of films and fashion to stop promoting a product that kills a user every second.
Dr. Bethel noted that of particular significance is the agreement on May 23, 2003 by Ministers of Health attending the 56th Session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, to introduce a framework convention on Tobacco Control. He said the Ministry of Health has followed the progressive development of the framework convention for tobacco control over the past three years.
The Health Minister further stated that over the years, the Ministry has consistently supported and ensured implementation of WHO guidelines and recommendations, to keep the dangers of smoking before the general public.
“A Health Order banned the advertising of tobacco products as far back as 1979 and the Department of Civil Aviation, introduced smoke free spaces in government airports, back in 1997. The Bahamas in effect, has maintained a pro-active posture promoting smoke free environments,” he said.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
