Tobacco.org

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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• 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.

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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.

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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."

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• Experts discuss ‘flawed’ tobacco legislation 

The Government White Paper on tobacco legislation came under further criticism at a recent Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Business owners, legal experts and other interested parties gathered on Wednesday, 28 March at the Marriott Beach Resort to discuss their issues with the proposed bill.

Each of the series of speakers at the meeting spoke of the need to make several changes to the proposed bill and this was met with widespread agreement amongst those present.

Murali Ram, an attorney at Quin & Hampson, was charged with the task of analysing the White Paper and explaining the planned regulations to those gathered.

“In its current form it is riddled with flaws. It needs industry and public input as it doesn’t account for businesses or smokers perspective,” Mr Ram said of the proposed bill.

For his presentation, Mr Ram outlined the key points of the White Paper and tried to clarify some of the more muddled restrictions in the White Paper. . . .

largest tobacco company who offered his support in regulating a product that he himself described as dangerous.

As the largest tobacco company in the world, Philip Morris International distributes their products worldwide

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Cayman Cancer Society backs proposed Tobacco Bill 

The Cayman Islands Cancer Society (CICS) has lent its full weight to support the motion to adopt the draft Tobacco Bill.

The Society also commended the Minster of Health, Hon Anthony Eden, for presenting the White Paper to the Legislative Assembly (LA) this month.

The CICS pointed out that tobacco legislation is not a new concept. It has been enacted in countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Cuba. In addition, parts of the United States, including Hawaii, have laws governing tobacco.

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Exempted cigar bars possible 

The government will consider exempting cigar bars and lounges from the proposed public smoking ban legislation.

Carnival Miracle cruise ship passenger James McGinty puffs away guilt-free at Island Companys Churchills Cigar store at Island Plaza Mall. Store Manager Juan Moya, left, fires up the Partagas series D#4 cigar imported from Cuba. Photo: Jewel Levy

"[Cigar lounges] will be looked at," said Minister of Health Anthony Eden at the cabinet press briefing last Friday. "As long as the public is not exposed, it will be looked at."

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• Tobacco bill brings cheers, concerns 

Cayman's long-awaited plan to ban the use of tobacco products in all public places is getting a mixed reception this week from island business owners.

The bill would not allow smoking in restaurants, bars, or cigar bars. Even if those businesses have an outdoor area, people can't light up if they're within 10 feet of an enclosed public space, or if they're within 10 feet of a place like a public park.

Vehicles used for commercial or public transportation are also included in the ban.

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Tobacco Bill Before LA 

Health Minister Hon Anthony Eden said the Tobacco Bill's main purpose is to reduce tobacco use in the Cayman Islands and its associated harm.

The proposed measures aim to protect the public from exposure to tobacco smoke;

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EDITORIAL: Tobacco Law needed 

It's about time.

Nearly three years since former Health Minister Gilbert McLean announced the government was considering strict public smoking laws, and nearly two years since current Health Minister Anthony Eden said he intended to follow through with those laws, the country is finally expected to see on Monday what laws are actually proposed when the Tobacco Bill is tabled as a discussion document in the Legislative Assembly.

The purpose of the Bill is to reduce tobacco use in the Cayman Islands; to protect the public from exposure to harmful tobacco smoke; to protect minors and non-smokers from inducements to use tobacco; and to inform the public sufficiently about the dangers of tobacco use and second-hand smoke. . . .

A tough public smoking law is likely to have a positive effect on tourism, as well. Many of the tourists who come here are coming from places that have already enacted public smoking laws and they don't like having to breathe in toxic fumes caused by smokers.

We hope the government stands firm in its resolve to enact strict legislation that will truly help attain the stated purposes of the Bill.

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Hotel smoking issue undecided 

Although a strict non-smoking policy is being introduced in Marriott hotels within the US and Canada, no decision has been taken on what the future policy will be at the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort.

It was also not known what the decision will be for Grand Cayman's Courtyard Marriott by press time.

At the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort there is already a general no-smoking policy at its indoor public places, including indoor restaurants and bar; but outside smoking is permitted. There are a limited number of guest rooms where smoking is permitted. . . .

Earlier this year Grand Cayman's Westin Casuarina Resort went non-smoking in all buildings, including all guest rooms and public areas indoors.

This was part of a hotel chain brand-wide smoke-free policy in Westin Hotels and Resorts in the US, Canada and the Caribbean.

"It's been going excellent," General Manager of Grand Cayman's Westin Dan Szydlowski said

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