Total smoking ban coming

It will also deal with advertising, taxation, illicit trade and labelling of tobacco products, Health Minister John Rahael disclosed yesterday but said punishment for lawbreakers was still being decided.

"These will be for people who allow smoking on their premises that is where we will have to clamp down. The owners and the operators are the ones who will be held responsible."

Speaking to reporters after the opening of the TT Cancer Society’s (TTCS) "Advances in Breast Cancer Management Symposium" at the Marriott Hotel, Invaders Bay, Rahael said, "Second-hand smoke has been clearly identified as just as bad and causes illness not just to the person smoking."

The legislation is part of the Government’s move toward full implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), of which TT became the first Caribbean country to sign.

The FCTC took effect in 2003 when it was ratified by 40 countries. In June, Rahael announced a total ban on smoking in all Government buildings.

In anticipation of the legislation, Rahael said the ministry started an advertising campaign to increase public awareness about the impact of smoking and second-hand smoke.

In his address at the symposium, Rahael said work was progressing on the National Oncology Programme/Centre and staff was being trained. Cancer is responsible for 12 percent of deaths worldwide and the World Health Organisation has predicted an increase. Rahael said the incidence of cancer was high in TT with the data from the Cancer Registry showing that breast cancer was the most common form of cancer in women.

Rahael said diet and lifestyle played an influential role in developing breast cancer.

He appealed for regular exercise and a healthy balanced diet.Chairman of TTCS Dr George Laquis said legislation was critical and it was more than a ban on smoking in public buildings.

"It’s about advertising, can you have sales to the underage smoker? So it’s a legislative package that has penalties associated with it" he said.