Government may allow smoking in special areas for businesses

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Health Minister, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says he is willing to look at the possibility of allowing businesses, especially in the tourism industry, to have a special area outdoors to facilitate smokers. But Dr. Ferguson is making it clear that under the new measures that went into effect on July 15 banning smoking in public places, the government is clear about not allowing smoking rooms. “The evidence is clear that smoking kills. The evidence is clear that passive smoking kills. So, to put 10 to 15 persons in this room, what you are essentially setting up is a death chamber, because you now have concentration of smoking.”