Tobacco.org

Anti-smoking law up in the air 

About 16 months after the draft Tobacco Bill was brought before the Legislative Assembly (LA), it is still not clear when anti-smoking legistration will be introduced to the Cayman Islands.

The draft Tobacco Bill 2007, which amongst other things seeks to prohibit both the promotion of tobacco products and smoking in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places, was brought before the LA in March 2007.

In response to a request from Cayman Net News seeking clarification on the progress of the bill, the Ministry of Health issued the following statement:

"The Ministry is currently reviewing what is hoped will be the final draft, having taken representations from a variety of sources. In keeping with the Ministry's vision of 'Optimal Well Being for All', the Tobacco Bill remains a top priority."

Jump to full article »

Todays Editorial July 03: Where is smoking legislation? 

We welcome the news that another bar has chosen to go smoke free on its own without waiting for Government legislation.

The Corner Pocket at Alissta Towers is the latest of more than 40 venues on Grand Cayman that have chosen to take the smoking issue into their own hands.

Will they lose business for making this bold decision? We don’t think so. . . .

If Government isn’t going to step up to the plate we have to take matters into our own hands.

While it’s good that businesses have instituted no–smoking policies in their buildings in the Cayman Islands, it’s not enough.

Government has to come through with its promise of tobacco legislation.

Jump to full article »

Commentary: As We See It: Cough, cough; Hack, hack 

In 1492, Rodrigo de Jerez was the first victim of the anti-smoking lobby. Having returned from Cuba with Christopher Columbus, he smoked tobacco in Spain and was seen exhaling smoke from his nose. The Inquisition promptly incarcerated him for seven years. A bit harsh for a public smoking ban! By the time he was released, smoking was all the rage in Spain. . . .

aturally, removing the smoke is the simplest and most effective way of getting rid of the 'hazard' and thereby eliminating any possibility of lawsuits, unhappy customers and risking the employees' health.

Whatever your view on the subject, the ban will be a culture shock. . . .

The Cayman Labour Law requires that employers must make sure a place of work is as safe as is reasonably practical for their employees. And therein lies the crunch. Since it is now proven that even passive cigarette smoke has the potential to cause cancer, if an employer allows smoking on their premises, that means they are willingly risking the health of their staff. . . .

For those of you who don't wish to quit, I respect your decision, but hope that at some point in your life you will realise, as I did, that your long term health and your best interest will be served by going smoke free.

Good luck to all our readers.

Jump to full article »

'World No Tobacco Day' targets youth 

A number of public bodies have joined forces to promote the dangers of smoking in honour of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), set for Saturday, 31 May.

WNTD is an initiative of the World Health Organisation, first commemorated in 1988 and annually since 1990. This year's theme is Tobacco-Free Youth.

Christine Sanders, Chief Operating Officer at the Cayman Islands Cancer Society said, "Young people are targeted by the tobacco industry who are looking for the next generation of tobacco users. They are influenced by role models, both persons in their everyday lives such as parents, other relatives and friends and also by musicians, sports and other personalities."

Jump to full article »

New tobacco bill drafted 

The government has drafted a new tobacco bill that might be tabled in the Legislative Assembly as early as February.

Reading from a statement during the Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts said the revised bill took on board comments provided during the public consultation period that followed the tabling of the discussion white paper bill last March.

Mr. Tibbetts said the revised bill would also be tabled with regulations. . . .

The draft Tobacco Bill banned smoking in most public places, including bars and restaurants, parks and other gathering places. It also put strict regulations on the sale, advertising, display and packaging of tobacco products.

Several business owners complained about the possible negative effect a smoking ban would have on their businesses.

Cigar bars, in particular, lobbied to be exempt

Jump to full article »

LETTER: Smoking ban comments astonishing 

I found Dr. Yin’s comments concerning the effects of the smoking ban in Scotland astonishing.

As a medic, does she really think that in only one year people who have smoked for years can cut hospital admissions by 17 per cent?

If she thinks that a smoking ban similar to ours will help children from starting, she should visit Scotland and see for herself.

The truth of the matter in Scotland is that smokers are forced to stand outside bars and restaurants in full view of the public (children included). . . .

Although this kind of problem does not affect the Cayman Islands, I have witnessed some of the terrific storms that you do get and would not like to stand in the open during these.

Jump to full article »

LETTER: Statements misleading 

The 8 January article on banning smoking in the Cayman Islands contains a number of misleading and misinformed statements that are purposely promoted by the anti-smoking zealots to advance their cause.

Smoking bans have not had any certifiable affect on a populations' health.

The Scottish example is not a scientific study and does not consider any other factor in the drop of heart attack numbers.

In fact, worldwide (and specifically in America) smoking is up. . . .

Although it does not support the anti-smokers, it would do them well to read the World Health Organizations report on environmental smoke, the one where they found no scientific evidence to support a link between second hand smoke and health.

Jump to full article »

MONTOYA: Tobacco Law on track 

The Ministry of Health and Human Services is pleased to note the continued interest by the media and special interest groups in the passing of Tobacco Legislation in the Cayman Islands.

The health of the public has and continues to be of paramount importance to the Anthony S. Eden, Minister of Health and Human Services.

The committee established by the Ministry to work with the medical officer of Health completed a review of the comments provide by the public during the consultation period. This information was submitted to the Legislative Drafting Department and a revised bill has been completed. Thank you to all persons who took the time to provide feedback.

Jump to full article »

Smoking law frustration builds 

There is growing frustration with the time it is taking government to pass and implement its Tobacco Law, which was meant to bring the Cayman Islands more into line with the Western world in its approach to smoking in public places.

Cayman Islands Cancer Society Medical Director, Dr. Sook Yin said the legislation seems to be languishing.

"Every day people are smoking and dying from this awful habit, which is so preventable. It is frustrating that we have this [proposed legislation] but it hasn't been put into action," she said.

"All around the world, this law has been passed. Even in India they have managed to get their act together."

Health Minister Anthony Eden, who has previously been a vocal proponent of anti-smoking measures, has not returned repeated calls from the Caymanian Compass over a period of months asking whether the legislation has been shelved. In the past three-weeks, Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts has also not responded to similar questions.

Jump to full article »

EDITORIAL: Time to light up or snuff out 

It's time for Government to clear the air on the whole smoking law issue.

Is Cayman going to get smoking legislation or not?

And if it is approved, what is it going to look like? . . .

Let's hope that the Government can show us that good, meaningful, well researched and insightful thought has been put in to the regulations that make up the Tobacco Law.

To give us a watered-down version that doesn't provide enforcement of the law wouldn't be fair to the citizens of this country. It would only mean that Government was telling us what the majority wanted to hear - that smoking legislation has been approved.

If it's not time for the legislation with rigorous regulations, then it's not time.

But it is time to get off the fence.

Jump to full article »

LETTER: Where is tobacco legislation? 

I fear the tobacco legislation is under a cloud of smoke.

What started out as a bold and courageous initiative seems to have been dangerously delayed. . . .

During the many weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments my loved one painfully endured, I got to see and learn from the other patients as well as from the doctors. The word from them is not if but when you will get cancer.

More than 50 per cent of the patients there were being treated for tobacco related cancers. . . .

We are in the majority!

Let your elected officials know that we need this legislation and we need it in the strongest language possible.

Have them open the door and let out the smoke so that we can breathe and smell fresh air again.

Jump to full article »

Opposition backs Tobacco Bill 

Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush said he supports the proposed Tobacco Bill and would even take it further if he had his way.

"I can find no reason not to support the bill," he said. "Tobacco is harmful for people who smoke and for people who don't smoke."

Mr. Bush said all members of the Opposition had discussed the matter and were in agreement with their support of the bill.

However, Mr. Bush said he also had very strong personal feelings about the bill.

"I would like to see the whole island tobacco free," he said. "If I had my way, I'd ban tobacco in this country." . . .

Acknowledging that a complete smoking ban in the Cayman Islands would not be realistic, Mr. Bush called on the government to consider raising duty on cigarettes.

"Anyone wanting to import [tobacco products] should be made to pay the highest premium," he said.

Jump to full article »

• Smoking ban 'among world's most comprehensive'  

If passed unchanged, the Tobacco Bill would impose one of the world's toughest anti-smoking regimes, a Cayman Observer survey has found

If passed unchanged, the Tobacco Bill would impose one of the world's toughest anti-smoking regimes, a Cayman Observer survey has found.

A survey of tobacco laws elsewhere reveals legislative efforts of varying strictness, but none with the combined, comprehensive restrictions of the Cayman Islands bill.

Even though the Tobacco Bill is based on a World Health Organisation template drafted in 2003, only a relative handful of specific places around the world have attempted an outdoor ban similar in scope to Cayman's proposed prohibition in parks and on beaches as well as in enclosed public places.

Jump to full article »

Today's Editorial March 30: Tobacco Bill needs clarity 

During the Chamber of Commerce's luncheon concerning the proposed Tobacco Bill on Wednesday, private sector attorney Murali Ram pointed out a number of what must be considered flaws in the draft legislation.

There are often many flaws in new bills, and the Tobacco Bill was only put out as a white paper for public consultation, so it is not too alarming that Mr. Ram was able to find a number of drafting problems.

However, what is troubling is that many sections of the law refer to elements prescribed by regulations that have not yet been released. Nor has the Ministry of Health given the public any idea what the regulations might likely contain. . . .

Although we can understand why the Government would like to maintain control over certain workings of laws through policy decisions rather than legislation, it seems less than transparent to delay announcing regulations until after a public consultation period is over.

Especially when it comes to something as fundamentally changing to society as the Tobacco Bill, we would hope that in the future the government announces its full intentions with regard to proposed legislation before any public consultation process commences.

Jump to full article »

Tobacco Bill picked apart 

A private sector attorney identified many apparent flaws in the draft Tobacco Bill during the Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Marriott Beach Resort Wednesday.

Even though he is a non-smoker and anti-smoking advocate, Murali Ram of Quin and Hampson pointed out more than a dozen sections of the white paper bill that he said need attention. But Mr. Ram thought the lack of guiding regulations a more fundamental problem to eliciting meaningful feedback on the proposed legislation.

"No regulations have been circulated and the finer points of the bill are left to be dealt with the regulations," he said. "The danger with that is that regulations don't have to be passed by parliament."

Jump to full article »