Concern at tardiness honouring obligations under FCTC

Friday, September 16, 2011

Dear Editor,

Please allow me to congratulate Angellique Virtue who on September 15 asked, "What is the Gov't doing about tobacco cultivation?" This very well written and researched article explored the challenges we face in Jamaica regarding the delayed tabling of tobacco control legislation and the troubling news that the government is contemplating increasing tobacco production. I wrote recently in your newspaper on these issues.

I fully endorse Ms Virtue's comments and welcome support from otherconcerned Jamaicans about these issues that impact on the health and development of our citizens.

The minister of health has made several promises to the people of Jamaica that the tobacco control legislation will soon be passed, the most recent being on September 9th at a health meeting when he said: "We have been moving ahead with the implementation of our obligations under the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" (FCTC).

Jamaica's tardiness in honouring its obligations under the FCTC continues to cause concern at the regional and international levels, especially in light of the High Level Meeting at the UN next week on NCDs, of which tobacco use is a major risk factor.

One of the important outcomes of that meeting will be measures to reduce tobacco use to prevent the devastating health impact of tobacco-related diseases on populations.

The results of the RADA survey on tobacco farming show that many farmers are eager to increase production, and part of Ms Virtue's letter included this: "The Convention requires governments to pass legislation to control tobacco consumption and discourage the production of tobacco as an agricultural crop. However, as it stands today in Jamaica, there is no government action to discourage tobacco cultivation although other legislation is being developed".

The Government of Jamaica needs to review the current tobacco production and instead encourage farmers to plant alternative crops. The government also needs to review the Tobacco Industry Regulation Act of 1970, sections of which are at variance with the FCTC. In all of this the health of the Jamaican people must be the overriding concern.

We again call on the government to live up to its obligation by speedily implementing the FCTC, which it ratified in 2005; draft legislation has been making the rounds since that year.

The JCTC remains ready to assist the government to effect the measures and put Jamaica in the ranks of other countries that are enhancing public health. Our assistance includes pre- and post-legislation sensitisation of enforcement and other related agencies as well as the public about the health and economic benefits of the legislation.

Dr Knox Hagley

Chairman

Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control

28 Beechwood Avenue

Kingston 5

jctc@infochan.com