This law is for revenue generation. Come on, with all the issues in Jamaica this should be way down the list of priorities!
This law is for revenue generation. Come on, with all the issues in Jamaica this should be way down the list of priorities!
Goldilocks,Originally Posted by goldilocks
While this may be your opinion, the Jamaican Health Minister Dr. Ferguson has a different take on it, including counseling:
" Ferguson urges smokers to respect rights of others
Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson has said he is willing to look at the possibility of allowing businesses, especially in the tourist industry, to have a special area outdoors to facilitate smokers.
Speaking on the Jamaica Information Service programme 'Issues and Answers' on Thursday, he was clear about not allowing smoking rooms.
"The evidence is clear that smoking kills. The evidence is clear that passive smoking kills. So, to put 10 to 15 persons in this room, what you are essentially setting up is a death chamber, because you now have concentration of smoking," he said.
NOT A WHOLESALE BAN
He pointed out that the new anti-smoking regulations are not a wholesale ban on smoking. "What we want to define is that once it (smoking) is going to impinge on someone else's right, then the ban chips in. So, in essence, if you want the right to smoke, do it where you do not affect the public in general," he said.
Ferguson said he was not averse to having a second look at the penalties for breaking the ban, to include mandatory counselling for offenders.
"I know some persons are a little worried about the fines, and even conviction. My thing is not about sending anyone to prison. So, probably we might need to look, in revisiting, at some kind of mandatory counselling sessions, because cigarette smoking is an addiction, and to that extent, it oftentimes require professional help," he said."
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...ead/lead5.html
All of this seems like a rather common sense approach to a well known health hazard...
Negril.com - For the vacation that never ends!
LOL, it is absolutely my opinion. My opinion is that the ban is for revenue generation (e.g. arrests at Sumfest - outside venue). if gov was so concerned about public health they would better look into road safety or efficient investigation of murders - things like that. I'm all about not offending others, don't smoke tobacco and am disciplined enough to police my own actions and be considerate of others. "Love is the only law to obey" is my general practice.
The government has been...
ie. traffic lights, medians & sidewalks being placed on Norman Manley Blvd...road repairs are more frequent around the island...South Coast road construction...and a cell phone ban while driving should be introduced very shortly.
And, just a thought regarding the smoking charges at Sumfest...but if it was just a money grab...why were the people at Sumfest given several warnings, which they chose to ignore, before they were finally charged?
Posting Permissions
