The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health on Monday signed the ‘100% Smoke Free Policy Declaration’ in the company’s boardroom.

The policy stipulates that there will be no smoking in GWI’s buildings, in its compounds and all other related facilities and for at least a nine metres radius surrounding any entrance or exit.

The smoke-free policy declaration was signed by the Chief Executive of GWI, Yuri Chandisingh and Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy in the presence of Housing and Water Minister, Irfaan Ali and staff from both the Health Ministry and GWI.

Accepting the charge that was delivered to the company was Gail Doris, GWI’s Human Resources Management head. She said, “We will certainly uphold this declaration and we’ll certainly live up to this declaration.”

Ramsammy, after signing the declaration, expressed his “profound gratitude” to the water company for signing onto the policy and he noted that water is the basis of long life and it is closely related to health.

The minister had strong words for the tobacco company for the “subtle messages” in its advertisements, “I say shame on you to the tobacco company!” Ramsammy pointed out that while the tobacco company warns about the ill effects of smoking on young people in the same advertisement it suggests that they should wait until they are out of school to try tobacco. He further criticised the tobacco company stating that sponsorship “is their way of getting around…shame on you!”

Ramsammy held nothing back in his criticism of the tobacco company stating that its promotion of smoking was equivalent to holding a loaded gun to someone’s head. He said others then had to educate people and to ensure that young people do not pick up the habit.

Touching on the issue of labelling of cigarette packages, the minister stated that he is not going to settle for less than 50% graphic display of the effects of smoking on the labels. Guyana has not yet adopted the labelling of packages with graphics.