| As the debate continues back and forth between the tobacco industry and the public health sector on a legislation to ban tobacco smoking in public places, many citizens are raising their voices in favour of it.Eleven years ago Guyana assented to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and promised to impose regulations for tobacco consumption and its trade. It was followed up by National consultations held on the proposed tobacco legislation. This Bill was approved by Cabinet a few weeks ago.It is intended to protect present and future generations from the “devastating harms” of tobacco use, exposure to tobacco smoke, and specifically to prevent tobacco use among youths, and is expected to be tabled in Parliament in May. The legislation is also seeking to ensure that the public is protected from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry, while preventing the illicit trade in tobacco products.However, there were many debates for and against the ban. Public Health Minister George Norton said the sector is resilient to ensure that the Bill is passed in the Parliament. PAHO health officials have stated, unremittingly, the pros for restrictions on tobacco in Guyana. And the tobacco industry has lamented over the Bill, labelling it as greatly flawed.But how many times have we heard what Guyana has to say? Or what the tobacco vendors think?In an interview with the Kaieteur News, a 22-year-old man, who asked to remain anonymous, said the glaring negative effects of smoking cigarettes are common. But the effects on non-smokers, he said, are not widely known. He stated that because of these negative effects, he would be happy to know that there are restrictions imposed to end cigarette smoking in public places.“Public smoking involuntarily exposes people to such effects. You can have a non-smoker, who has never smoked in their entire life walking along or pass a smoker and is then exposed to the harmful chemicals from that cigarette. That isn’t the non-smoker’s choice, it is the smoker,” he said, arguing that it is unfair to non-smokers.“…smoking is not a necessity…so if you want to do it, do it in the privacy of your own home, don’t affect and infect other people,” another man name Daryl Singh said. The man stated that since it is not a “need”, it should not be hard to pass the Bill since those affected by the harmful smoke is more than those who manufacture and distribute tobacco products.“It is a major health issue so why not ban it. It is not making any tangible contribution to the country anyway,” he said.Every year, tobacco kills six million people— 5.4 million active smokers and 600,000 non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke. It is the only 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.In 2015, the tobacco industry in Guyana brought in $5 billion in revenue. But,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, Pan American Health Organization Country Representative opined that Revenue brought in through the tobacco industry does not compensate for the amount of lives that are being lost from smoking and second hand smoke every year.He stated that, “In Guyana, children are ‘allowed’ to buy cigarettes, cigarettes are sold in sticks for as low as forty dollars, and people are left to suffer from second hand smoke” and therefore restrictions should be implemented.This was also the sentiment shared by one medical student, Ejaz Hatim. He stated that tobacco smoking not only exposes non-smokers to the risk of second hand smoke but it also reduces the life expectancy of the smoker. Thus, he stated that, “the benefits of stopping public smoking outweigh the negatives of a couple of jobs lost.”He noted that he does not mean to sound callous but the evidence is there to prove that tobacco is detrimental to a person’s life.Nonetheless, Demerara Tobacco Ltd is lamenting over the passing of the bill. The Managing Director of the company stated that the Bill is being used as a weapon to cripple the local tobacco industry.The official stated that hundreds of workers will be out of a job once the Bill is tabled and passed. It is these workers that Kaieteur News approached to hear their thoughts on the issue.One cigarette vendor, Orin Mc Kenzie stated that the ban will force all of the vendors off of the streets. “We have created our own jobs and this will put us in a lot of stress. Is the ones in big offices passing these laws…they know where their bread coming from but is we who will have to find a next hustle,” he said angrily. Mc Kenzie has been selling cigarettes for 30 years in front of the Stabroek Square.“They putting people to thief. They will be taking food out of a lot of mouths,” he added. Another vendor stated that she was already struggling to earn a living and provide for her children so the Bill being passed is going to take food out of her family’s mouth.“They want to come and take that away from us. That is heartless of them…where are we gonna sell? Under the counter?”Yonette Felix, another cigarette vendor, said she is the sole bread winner of her household and to remove her from selling on the street would take away the little she has. “This [she said holding up the cigarette pack] is what we live on,” she asserted, indicating that selling cigarette has been her livelihood for over seven years.“They should come with another alternative. Alcohol kills more people than a pack of cigarette, why they don’t target that?” she said, adding that there is no concrete evidence to prove that cigarette causes cancer. |
