MONTEGO BAY, St James — Public health officials in this parish are worried about the prevalence of smoking in public spaces and the impact second- and third-hand smoke can have on residents.

According to chief public health inspector for St James Shericka Lewis, there needs to be renewed discussion on the issue as it appears some individuals have developed “temporary amnesia” on the matter.

“We are seeing, from the public health team, that persons are just casually smoking tobacco and tobacco products all over the parish,” she told Thursday’s monthly council meeting of St James Municipal Corporation.

“That is something that the public health department, we are very concerned with — and especially as we are having so many events, and we are seeing persons on the road smoking casually,” Lewis added.

Regulations promulgated in 2013 and amended in 2014 provide the legal framework for smoking in public. Lewis stressed the important of following the rules.

“The danger of smoking comes from inhaling chemical compounds, some in the tobacco and some that are created when the tobacco is burned,” she said.

“Tobacco smoke is a toxic mix of more than 7,000 chemicals; at least 70 can cause cancer. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke — all cigarettes are harmful,” she explained.

She also warned of the dangers of indirect exposure to these chemicals.

“Second-hand smoking is more dangerous and more toxic to the second-hand recipient versus the persons who are actually doing the smoking,” said the public health worker.

She also warned of the danger of third-hand smoke, which is found in the air.

Lewis reminded the meeting of the actions that can be taken against anyone who ignores the rules.

An individual can be fined up to $10,000 for a first offence while the maximum fine for a second offence is $25,000; a third offence attracts a fine up to $50,000.

Owners and operators of premises will face stiffer penalties.

“In the case of a business place or corporation — and this includes clubs, tourism establishments, bars, restaurants and other businesses — a fine up to $1 million [is the penalty],” said Lewis.

However, she was quick to point out that there are allowances in law for individuals who wish to smoke in public.

“There are special provisions for smoking areas in establishments, but there are certain conditions [under] which they would get approval for this. For further information, the public health department can be contacted for establishments that do wish to have a smoking area,” she urged.

But Councillor Charles Sinclair Jr (Jamaica Labour Party, Montego Bay North West Division) took issue with what he says is a disparity in the legislation surrounding smoking in public spaces.

He pointed to differences in the rules applied to the smoking of cigarettes, which can be legally purchased, versus the smoking of ganja which has stricter rules surrounding purchase and possession.

Sinclair, who is also a Government senator, framed his comments within the context of spaces managed by local authorities. He pointed to Catherine Hall Sports Complex where individuals at time smoke ganja openly.

“The smoke that emanates from ganja affects people in the very same way that cigarettes do. It is a nuisance, especially if it is smoked at these events,” he said.

He stressed that neither he nor anyone in his household smokes cigarettes, but he believes there is a need for even-handedness.

“The playing field must be level and there must be fairness in what we do, otherwise we create certain types of division in this country. We must be fair,” he continued.

While he noted that “an Administration of this country created a very strange situation” by passing the legislation regarding cigarette smoking in 2014, Sinclair — who is an attorney — said he has no issue upholding the law, however he argued that more needs to be done to help individuals understand the implications of their actions.

“We created this division and so I want to find out, because I get the impression from the presentation that you want to ensure that these things are enforced,” he said to Lewis.

“Nothing is wrong with it [legislation surrounding smoking in public spaces] because it is the law, and we must educate our public that smoking cigarettes is not good. But I am just saying: Let us do the education because there is a misunderstanding about what is constituted as a public place. They say you can’t smoke in the building but if you go outside the building — like some five feet or metres — aren’t you still in a public place?” he queried.