Smoking causes cancer, cancer kills

THE EDITOR, Sir:

There is a mentality in this country that anything goes.

In response to a recent article by Dr Abel Wendel in the Wednesday edition of The Gleaner, I am in full support of his call for a ban on smoking in public spaces. It is critical that the powers that be move to implement this ban as quickly as possible.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death around the world, including Jamaica. But for some strange reason, we have not sought (like so many other things) to implement the necessary steps needed to tackle the issue of banning smoking.

It is outrageous to me how many times I have been in public spaces in Jamaica and persons are smoking away as if it is nobody's business. It happens, for example, at the entrance to one very popular New Kingston hotel, or the 'enclosed' lounge. At my own workplace, I have had to battle with this issue of persons smoking at the entrances to buildings.

Most places to which I have travelled, especially in the US, have designated smoking and non-smoking areas in public spaces. In some states, no smoking is allowed in the public domain. Why then do we not implement this here in Jamaica, setting a standard for our visitors to follow?

NO ENFORCED STANDARDS

Many times our visitors come to Jamaica with a mentality that anything goes because we have not set and enforced standards for ourselves. When will we learn as a nation that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: but fools despise wisdom and instruction"?

It is time that we heed the calls that have so long been put before us and stand up for truth, justice and reconciliation. Let's do as Dr Abel Wendel is doing: Call for the standards and the walls of a nation to be rebuilt. Let us stand upon sound principles, godly principles, so that this nation may be exalted by Almighty God.

TINA LINTON

St Andrew