TUESDAY 23RD MARCH 2010

The National Parliament, on Thursday 18 March 2010, debated and passed the Tobacco Control Bill 2010. This was a government bill that has been around for over twenty years but which was never considered by previous successive governments. The bill was tabled in Parliament by the Minister of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Hon. Clay Forau Soalaoi.
The main purpose of the Bill is:

1. to encourage the health of the public against the dangers of tobacco smoking;
2. to encourage non smokers to refrain from smoking and protect them from persuasion or inducements to use tobacco products and consequent dependence on them;
3. to enhance public awareness of the hazards of tobacco use by ensuring the effective communication of accurate and relevant information to consumers of tobacco products;
4. to protect the public to the extent deemed reasonable and possible from the hazards of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke;
5. to encourage and assist smokers to give up smoking , to promote good health and the prevention of illness; and
6. to reduce some of the harmful effects of tobacco products and in tobacco smoke”.

In his opening speech at the beginning of second reading of the bill, Hon. Soalaoi praised the CNURA government for its vision and support in ensuring the bill is tabled in Parliament in the final meeting of the present House before dissolution. He highlighted that “whilst tobacco industry generated millions of dollars as revenue for this country annually, on the other hand, it has contributed to major socio- economic problems as well”.

Commenting on the negative impacts of tobacco, the Minister informed Parliament that, “over the past seven years diseases related to the use of tobacco has increased; for example lung cancer has killed 115 Solomon Islanders, of which 85 percent were male. The turnover of deaths caused by lung cancer increased in 2009, when it was recorded that 92 died from the deadly disease”.

Hon. Soalaoi was also quite alarmed with recent statistics on smoking, particularly amongst youths. He took the opportunity during second reading debate to inform all Solomon Islanders to know that currently 41.2 percent of the nation’s young generation have, or currently are, smoking tobacco products. The Minister advised further that around 23.4 percent (1 in 4) high school students use other tobacco related products whilst 25.6 percent of the present younger generation are likely to smoke in one year’s time, if nothing is done now.

Members of Parliament on both sides of the House applauded the CNURA Government, particularly the Minister, his Permanent Secretary and officials of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for the remarkable achievement. The bill was unanimously passed by Parliament in both second and third reading demonstrating a strong and general consensus amongst politicians on the intentions of the bill.