A GROUP of cigarette vendors and smokers on Wednesday afternoon picketed outside the Ministry of Public Health, Brickdam, Georgetown, airing their grievances against certain aspects of the recently passed Tobacco Control Bill.

A protestor, who spoke on behalf of the group of 15, and requested not to be named, claimed that the bill will affect small cigarette vendors and smokers because they will not be able to advertise the sale of cigarettes.

She also claimed that small vendors will be unable to make a living by selling small quantities of loose cigarettes.

Even though tobacco smoke is among the leading causes of death globally, the woman related that a cigarette vendor told her that he paid for his car and supports his family selling cigarettes.

The protest attracted cigarette vendors around the markets and several city wards. They told Guyana Chronicle that the fines in the bill are harsh and there should be no imprisonment for smoking in public.

They suggested that there should be instead community service for those in breach of the law, pointing out that jailing person for smoking will create more problems as the authorities have been battling to control prison overcrowding.

The bill, which had its genesis under the previous administration, was piloted by Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence and passed in the National Assembly.
The Tobacco Control Bill provides for the adoption and implementation of tobacco-control policies in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Hailed as a progressive legislation, the bill serves as the legal regulator for administration, inspection and enforcement, while providing legislative protection from exposure to second- hand smoke by eliminating public smoking.

It seeks to reduce tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke; prevent tobacco use by minors and protect workers and the public from exposure to tobacco smoke.
The bill also clears the way for the establishment of a National Tobacco Control Council.
The legislation will be enforced by the application of several penalties in the form of fines and prison sentences for “certain transgressions”.
These range from a fine of $200,000 for persons who breach the new regulations, along with six months’ imprisonment, to fines for business entities of up to $9M.