Letter to the Editor

Praise for Health Minister over anti-smoking legislation

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Dear Sir,

The Cayman Islands Cancer Society would like to commend Gilbert McLean on his support of the introduction for the introduction of legislation governing tobacco in the Cayman Islands. The Society fully supports this initiative.

The use of tobacco products in public places is becoming more socially unacceptable all around the world, as evidenced by the bans on smoking in major cities in the United States, in countries like Ireland, New Zealand and India, and the recent ban on smoking on beaches in some parts of the United States.

There are also more people leading a tobacco-free lifestyle. The use of tobacco is one of the leading causes of cancer and heart disease in men and women and the overwhelming majority of lung cancer cases are directly attributed to tobacco.

The health dangers of tobacco exist, not just for the smoker, but also for those around them who are forced to breathe tobacco smoke.

Recent studies show that exposure to tobacco smoke increases the non-smoker’s risk of developing heart disease. Ceasing the use of tobacco products, can dramatically improve the health of smokers.

The citizens of Cayman are facing rising health insurance and health care costs. It is hoped that restricting the use of tobacco products may in some small way gradually contribute to a reduction in these costs.

Minister McLean has promised to put the draft legislation out for public comment in the near future and the Cancer Society urges everyone to review the draft legislation when it is released and to provide feedback for the health of the people of the Cayman Islands.

Theresa Foster
Director, Cayman Islands Cancer Society

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