Dear Editor,

It is quite unfortunate that Dr Hagley, in his letter published in the Observer Tuesday, June 11, 2013, conveyed some misleading comments in his quest to encourage the Parliament to enact long-promised tobacco control legislation.

The truth is, if the intention, as we believe it is, is to add further pressure on Health Minster Dr Ferguson to end the talk and bring the legislation for debate in Parliament, then surely, there are other credible means of doing so. It is important, however, to advise the public that the company rejects any assertion by Dr Hagley, or any member of the anti-tobacco community, that the billboard situated at our corporate offices in Twickenham Park, or indeed any of our marketing activities, is directed at the country’s youth.

The fact is, it is a criminal offence to sell cigarettes to minors, and the company, through its Youth Smoking Prevention Programme, vigorously employs a zero-tolerance approach to all retailers who sell our products. We work continuously with the law-enforcement apparatus in the country to ensure that the law is obeyed. Additionally, we market and distribute our tobacco products to adults who have taken the decision to smoke. And, access to all our zones and promotions are rigorously screened to ensure that all entrants are firstly adults, and that they are also smokers.

The company remains committed to our decision, in 2005, of not having a national billboard presence across the country, as in times past. The billboard of which Dr Hagley speaks is the only one in the country, and is situated at our official corporate residence.

Carreras, as a legitimate and responsible corporate entity, is usually first to state that the consumption of our products can have health consequences. We have never sought to mislead or falsify that fact. We support the view that the product and its consumption need to be regulated, and we are on record as saying so publicly.

Perhaps Dr Hagley can ensure that the legislation of which he speaks has measures within it to prevent the inflow of counterfeit and illicit cigarettes because surely that’s where the worldwide statistics show, more than anything else, that our children and youths are vulnerable. The unregulated, illicit trade in cigarettes in Jamaica is valued at some $3 billion annually and moves some 100 million sticks of cigarettes within the country; a matter on which Dr Hagley and his colleagues have remained silent.

Carreras reiterates its support for balanced tobacco-control legislation and, like Dr Hagley, urges Minister Ferguson to table for debate in Parliament a draft bill quickly.

Christopher R Brown

Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs

Carreras Limited