Tobacco Control Bill without enforcement is pointless – PAHO

Three years after the Tobacco Control Bill was passed, little has been done to ensure that the provisions are enforced, and persons culpable face penalisation.
On Friday, Pan American Health Organisation Representative, Dr William Adu-Krow said that such laws are useless if they aren’t enacted.
His remarks came on the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, which will be celebrated on Sunday under the theme: “Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use”.
Adu-Krow stated, “Sometimes I lament over the issue that people who have to be working harder than we are, are not. I’m saying this with a clean conscience…We need to be doing more. If we’re serious, we have to show it in what we do. Otherwise, we will pass laws after laws after laws and get practically get nowhere.”
It was mentioned that the Ministry needs to employ effective campaigns and advertisements to capture the attention of all ages.
This was backed by Chairperson of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Kesaundra Alves, who represented the caretaker Public Health Minister. She insisted that while “a lot” needs to be done, they are constrained by financing.
“A lot more needs to be done in relation to enforcement. We have a comprehensive piece of legislation; if implemented completely, can really fight tobacco epidemic. A lot more needs to be done. I believe one bugbear has been funds, to make this possible. PAHO has put a lot of money into tobacco control in terms of public education, ads.”
According to Alves, human resources to are needed to monitor key locations where tobacco is sold, to ensure vendors are keeping with the guidelines.
“The Ministry of Public Health needs to focus on training of enforcement officers so that they know what their role is in terms of enforcing the Tobacco Control Act. That is something that should’ve been done this year…Enforcement needs to be ramped up. It is too slow and I hope that we don’t [lose] momentum…We need foot soldiers out there and, in some regard, the Ministry of Public Health does not have all the resources required to ensure enforcement,” the Chair highlighted.
She also spoke about protecting youths from industry manipulation, since companies are known to employ tactics to attract people.
Nicotine is now available in many forms, different packaging and flavours, causing people to underestimate the risks involved in using them.
Government’s Tobacco Control Bill provides that public smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products, such as cigars, will be prohibited by law. Moreover, no person shall be permitted to smoke in any waiting area or queue in a public place.
Those public places include, but are not limited to, any public transport stop, bus stand, or bus park. Smoking would also be prohibited in any park, playground, or amusement park; any stadium, arena, or any kind of sport of performance place; or any space for commercial service of food or drinks.
The Act says it shall also be illegal for persons to smoke in any area within five metres of a window, door, or ventilation inlet to any public place or indoor workplace. Smoking shall also be prohibited anywhere on the premises of — or within five metres from the outside boundary of — any healthcare, educational or child care facility.
Part Five, Section 16 (3) of the Act states “Any person who smokes in any place where smoking is prohibited commits an offence, and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10,000 for the first offence, and $20,000 for any second or subsequent offence.”
The bill provides for a number of other fines and penalties, ranging from $200,000 – and six-months’ imprisonment. Corporate bodies can also face fines of up to $9 million for infringing on the ban regarding advertising. The advertising ban includes promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, even by electronic delivery systems.