Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy says taxes should be raised on cigarettes to curb their widespread use and governments across the region need to remove protective measures that are currently in place aiding tobacco use.
He referred to tobacco as the only “legal genocide” the world has have ever had, adding that, he is by no means overstating the point. Ramsammy said that the evidence exists about the devastating impact tobacco has and continues to have, “yet we still have to convince people that the substance is a killer”.
Ramsammy stated that governments spend so much time preaching about good health but still have protective measures in place that allow for the cigarette business to flourish, adding that taxes on cigarettes must be raised.
Ramsammy was speaking at the closing reception of the PAHO/WHO and CDC Global Youth Tobacco and Global School Personnel Survey Workshop, which drew participation from various countries in the Caribbean and Latin American region.
According to the minister, the time has long passed for the legislation to be put in place but it is not too late. However, he said, that the population must support it.
Guyana has completed its third global tobacco survey among youths and is currently working on a demographic survey. Ramsammy said this is all part of the health sector’s plan to work using evidence-based research.
He berated persons in the society who allow children to purchase cigarettes, and those who smoke around them.
“Any parent or person who put children at risk of buying cigarettes should be made to feel the force of the law. There are a lot of irresponsible parents and adults that are setting the wrong examples”.
Further, Ramsammy said that a great need still exists for persons to be educated on tobacco use and its dangers. He said programmes must be made available for persons to get help to escape the addiction.
He emphasized that young people must be protected from ‘lighting up’ noting that continuous efforts must be made to dispel the belief among young people that smoking is cool.
