Cigarette smoking in public places in Jamaica is now banned. Smokers who light up at specified locations will be in trouble with the law as the Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations took effect at midnight. This is in keeping with a June 25 announcement by Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of Health Minister.
The regulations require that "NO SMOKING" signs be posted at places of work, government buildings, educational institutions and health facilities including pharmacies. Smoking is also banned in public passenger vehicles as well as areas used by children and places of collective use such as bus stops.
Persons who fail to comply with the smoking laws will, in the first instance, be fined up to J$50,000 or be imprisoned for a maximum of three months, or both. For a second breach, persons will have to pay up to J$500,000 or serve as much as six months behind bars. For entities such as nightclubs, failure to comply will attract fines up to J$1 million.
The move is part of Jamaica's thrust to meet its international obligations, to enact measures to reduce the use of tobacco, and exposure to tobacco smoke.
The Health Minister has called a press conference for 9:30 Monday morning to explain the new smoking regulations. Persons have also been asked to wear white Monday to show support for the ban on smoking.
Not happy
In the meantime, marketer and distributor of cigarettes and tobacco products in Jamaica, Carreras, is not happy with the manner in which the regulations governing the smoking ban were made public. The company had expressed concern that persons were not adequately sensitised about the regulations which were gazetted last Thursday following a delay.
Marcus Steele, Carreras’ managing director, told RJR News that the company is trying to work around the situation.
“You would appreciate we have been getting a lot of calls from our retailers, from our customers, from persons of interest, persons who are very concerned about the ban. And we were not in a position to clearly demonstrate to our stakeholders and the persons of interest as to what exactly will happen. But am heartened that it is not a 100 per cent ban on smoking in public places and that is the clear message that we will have to continue to communicate to our stakeholders,” said Mr. Steele.
The company will be undertaking its own public education campaign to communicate the do's and don’ts of the law governing the ban.
Marches
And, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) said the introduction of the ban on smoking should be seamless for most private sector entities. According to JCC’s president, Francis Kennedy, a large number of companies had already prohibited smoking in their buildings. However, Mr. Kennedy believes there could be some resistance at entertainment spots.
Marches have been organised in three towns across Jamaica in support of the ban on smoking in public places. They will get underway Monday morning. Colleen Browne, assistant director of Client Services at the National Council on Drug Abuse, said one of the marches will take place at the Mandela Park in Half-Way Tree. The others will take place in Morant Bay, St. Thomas and in Montego Bay, St James. Ms Browne is urging the public to support these marches and to wear white.
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