Georgetown: As part of the Ministry of Public Health’s mandate – in accordance with Act 17 of the Guyana Constitution – the Tobacco Control Council was established today in the boardroom of the Health Sector Development Unit.
The newly launched body comprises 10 members drawn from the Ministry of Public Health, such as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Coordinator of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Kavita Singh and others within government organisations as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations and civil societies.
In her address to the council, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence encouraged them to consult with her, if need be, on matters regarding the councils’ functions.
“I want you to remain focused and steadfast. What you do here is not just about you or your family. It is about the entire nation and future generations too. Being on this council will give you an insight in an in-depth way as to why the government is taking such a stand against tobacco [in Guyana].”
Member of the council and Attorney-at-Law, Cassandra Alves, shared that there were attempts to prevent the government’s control of the product. However, she noted that “Article 5:3 in the WHO framework of prevention control that requires that the government protect the tobacco control policies and laws from the interference which is what we have been experiencing.”
With the establishment of the Tobacco Control Council, the attorney at law said that the council is seeking qualified persons and other resource personnel to serve as enforcement officers to help to remove Guyana from its position of third on the list of countries to have excessive use of tobacco in their society.
Alves also noted on the positive side, that the ministry has been doing an exceptional job in their efforts to promote awareness of dangers of tobacco usage in Guyana. The ministry was awarded the PAHO/WHO World No Tobacco award 2018 for their implementation of graphic health warnings, and unpackaging. Also, Guyana received the nomination to serve as the vice president on the committee framework of tobacco control.
Guyana is also among the list of Caribbean countries to have tobacco control legislation/regularisation. The other countries are Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Suriname and Jamaica.
The National Tobacco Bill No. 5 was passed in the Parliament of Guyana in 2017 to protect present and future generations from destructive effects on the human body from the exposure of tobacco smoke and its use. The mandate of the council, according to constitution Act 17, is to advise the minister on matters related to tobacco control and the administration and enforcement of this Act.
On December 14, 2018, Minister Lawrence assured members of Parliament that in 2019, the tobacco control council will be established.
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