Ministry plans more steps to cut out smoking

| 31/05/2018 | 46 Comments

(CNS): The health minister has announced plans to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control by addressing tobacco advertising, promotion, packaging and sponsorship. In his message marking World No Tobacco Day, which falls each year on 31 May, Dwayne Seymour said his ministry was “fully committed to exploring further options for reducing the risks that tobacco poses to Caymanians and residents of all ages”. He said that it had begun discussions to become fully ratified with the convention, which the Cayman Islands is already a signatory to through the United Kingdom.

This could see Cayman move to ban brand markings on packets of cigarettes and other tobacco products or obligate vendors to remove the products from visible display. It could also mean requiring importers to have graphic images about the harmful effects of smoking on the products they choose to sell.

This year’s annual No Tobacco Day focuses on heart and cardiovascular diseases, which kill more people than any other cause of death worldwide. Tobacco use is the second leading cause of CVD, after high blood pressure. In Latin America and the Caribbean 31% of all deaths are attributable to heart disease.

“What these numbers mean is that many of us may have lost a friend or family member who was a smoker or impacted by second hand smoke to heart disease,” Seymour said.

The number of deaths in the region due to CVD is estimated to increase by more than 60% by 2020 unless preventive measures are introduced and practised. This year’s No Tobacco Day highlights actions that members of the public and governments can take to mitigate the effects of tobacco products and limit access to them.

“As such, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) urges individuals to be aware that hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, may be caused by the use of tobacco. The number one risk factor for illness and premature death from cardiovascular disease, hypertension is also one of the most common non-communicable diseases in the Caribbean region,” Seymour said.

The World Health Organization also offers recommendations for how governments can support individuals who have taken the decision to be tobacco-free.

“I am pleased to say that the Cayman Islands has already made significant progress in this regard.  The implementation of a ban on smoking in public places has allowed us to protect people from the effects of second hand smoke. The corresponding adoption of a Tobacco Registry allows us to monitor tobacco use while higher import duty on tobacco products, we hope, will make them less affordable,” the minister added.

Blood pressure machines, funded by government, at the Government Administration Building and the Health Services Authority helps residents “stay in the know” about their blood pressure numbers, he noted.

The minister said government also planned to continue supporting people who make the decision to quit smoking with free classes, and a new round of these session are set to start this week.

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Comments (46)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    It is none of their business. Don’t allow the government take control over every aspect of your public and private life.
    It is fear that kills you. majority of people with lung cancer never smoked or were exposed to smoke. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer. Check your house. The Dump’s gasses are millions times more toxic. Everyone is exposed to it, yet, lets focus on cigarettes. You can’t make it up.

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    • anonymous says:

      Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and collect indoors. It can also be released from building materials, or from water obtained from wells that contain radon. Radon levels can be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed.
      Start with a short-term test. Test for radon in the lowest level of your home where people spend time. You can buy test kits at home improvement stores, hardware stores, or online.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The dump is bad I agree but to say smoking isn’t something we should try to deter people from doing is absurd. Smoking does cause lung cancer, and other health related problems. It’s not the only cause but it’s a huge health risk and everyone needs to be made aware of this.

  2. Anonymous says:

    The Dump’s gasses are killing you faster. Only fools would focus on smoking with the Dump in everyone’s backyard. Unbelievable!

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Make it illegal to throw cig butts on the ground then enforce the law. Maybe it is illegal and then I go back to enforcement. It’s disgusting, I’ve quit and you can too if you really want. Good luck to those that are trying, I know it’s hard. You will feel better and smell better I promise!

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  4. Anonymous says:

    why does gov allow cigar bars???
    the employees are not given the same statutory protection as other workers.
    cig could be sued because of this.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    smoking is for not very smart people.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    ps….some of the ministers were smoking in the old glass house…thereby exposing their workers to environmental tobacco smoke….just saying??

  7. Anonymous says:

    How about we start by enforcing the Tobacco Law? There are already rules for no smoking in public places, including bars and restaurants. Bartenders are not allowed to hand out ashtrays to their sticky customers saddled up to the bar. Who is in charge of enforcement?

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    • Anonymous says:

      They cant even do this right.

    • Anonymous says:

      Tobacco laws here are a lame attempt to limit smoking, but at the same time allow it to continue , with almost zero enforcement of the law. You can go to the South Church Street dive resort to see the entire bar and sit-down outside restaurant area with people smoking at the bar , while people are both eating ( and…smoking ) 10 feet away, yet they have a tiny outside ‘No Smoking’ area down with the no-see ums and wet scuba gear hanging on the concrete wall, where no non-smoker in their right mind would sit. There needs to be a no smoking policy in ALL outside public spaces where people congregate to eat & drink .

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Ganja/cigarette tar, cigar soot, vaporized oils, BHO…none of that stuff is healthy to inhale. Chronically fried villi and alveoli will not lead to a healthy heart, lungs, teeth, throat, tongue, gums, skin, or hair – not to mention costly physical/mental dependancies and withdrawal anxiety.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Another fleeting distraction from the more important issues like garbage and mosquitoes he really can’t handle. Jon Jon has got to be one of the all time waster Cayman politicians we’ve had.
    Don’t make me choke on this one

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  10. West Bay Premier says:

    Minister Seymour you have bigger fish to fry than smoking and second hand smoke , The dump is killing people faster than smoking and second hand smoke .

    I personally know that second hand smoke and smoking don’t kill you . Because when I was 5 years old , I nearly died and my Doctor stayed by my bedside attending to me and chain smoked all day for 4 days and 2ft away from me straight, and healed me so good I never had to go back to hospital in 69 years now , and still going stronger than ever doing everything I did all my life .

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    • Anonymous says:

      This really is Mckeeva isn’t it?? LMAO

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    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe he should just stick to frying fish. Can even do that?

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    • West Bay Premier says:

      What no one believes what I said in the above comment . It really happened just like it is said . The Doctor was Dr Hortor and he smoked lucky strike non filtered . Ask any old person from West bay if they knew him and what kind of cigarettes he smoked , and if he chain smoked .

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      • Fred the Piemaker says:

        What did he die of?

      • Anonymous says:

        I believe you. Thank you for smoking. And yes the Dump is killing people faster but they are blind to see.

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      • Anonymous says:

        West Bay Premier ..all that smoke got to you. That’s why you keep tearing down you own Caymanians.

        At least we know what’s wrong with you. Another Dr Hortor victim.

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        • West Bay Premier says:

          7 14am if you were a Dr Hortor victim , you would have been healthier and smarter and wouldn’t need to see the many Doctors as you do see .

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sorry to have to tell you but Minidtet Seymour is correct.

      How do we know – the Tobacco Institute’s research also came to that conclusion and the tobacco industry funds the Tobacco Institute.

      All tobacco smoke kills.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Make it $50 for a pack of ciggs, simple. That shit dont taste that good

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    • Gt says:

      Should we apply the same price increase to alcohol as well?

      Both are proven to kill….just two different poisons really ?

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      • Anonymous says:

        smoking directly effects others and has zero health benefits. alchohol in moderation has health benefits.

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        • Anonymous says:

          @ 9:47 pm

          Tell me genius…..when in the history of mankind has anyone killed a pedestrian or ran someone off the road due to smoking a cigarette?

          Whereas, alcohol has killed thousands of people, ruined hundreds of families world-wide, and directly impairs a persons visibility and judgement.

          Just so you know, in Cayman, there is no such think as drinking in moderation. Haven’t you noticed?

          The very Judges here are getting DUIs.

          Alcohol is far more of a problem than cigarettes….but you will never hear them say it.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Before it was eclipsed by texting and driving, smoking and driving caused more driving deaths than all of the other driver distractions combined. 75 years of traffic records to prove it.

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          • Anonymous says:

            drink driving is not an automatic result of drinking…the person has the choice to drive after getting drunk
            smoking harms the user and others automatically.
            anyway…. debating with someone of the smokers mentality is a waste of time.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You’re correct that there is, at least, no second-hand liver and kidney scarring, elevated small particle LDL, and atherosclerotic plaque deposits to adjacent cardiovascular systems, or contagious physiological addiction. Those direct impacts are confined to the drinker (who may mistakenly believe they are drinking in moderation, or may promise themselves they will try to consume less next week). There are definitely other secondary impacts that can affect the people around heavy drinkers (who coincidentally often characterize themselves as moderate drinkers).

          http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35255384

          https://www.netflix.com/ky/title/80185861

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    • Anonymous says:

      You’d be surprised how many people would still pay for it. It’s an addiction, and the people that are addicted cannot just stop. Raising the prices will just add to the criminal element of people smuggling tobacco to sell on the black market.

      Decriminalize cannabis! That would be a step in the right direction.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Hundreds of millions of people have successfully “just stopped”, including me. Ask your doctor how. You have to want to stop.

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      • Anonymous says:

        To 3:22 if I say who I am every that know me would agree , believe me you can stop smoking if you want to, you are bigger than the cigs .best wishes to those who choose to ,you sure will feel and smell better .

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        • Penny says:

          Although I agree with you that you have to “want to stop” however it is not easy. I have been smoking for 25 years and yes I want to stop. I have tried Hypno-Therepy, Chantix, cold turkey and am now trying vaping to help me, but none have worked. Even medical research has said that giving up smoking is as hard, if not harder than giving up heroine. So please don’t preach that it is easy, when it is not.

          What government need to concentrate on is educating young people on all the risks and expense which comes with smoking to try and stop it even starting to become a habit.

          To the really intelligent person who said that smokers should not get health insurance etc, is a moron. Someone who is obese/over weight should also be denied insurance, someone who drinks should be denied. All these are choices people make which are unhealthy and affect ones body so stop the finger pointing.

  12. Anonymous says:

    If $12 a pack is not enough o make people stop then just deny them health insurance and medical treatment. Let them kill themselves slowly.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Make cigarettes illegal and ban imports. Or tax them so much that you really really have to want to die an early painful death to buy them.

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