SOLOMON Islands could follow other Pacific Island countries that prohibit smoking in public places if Parliament passes a Tobacco Control Bill in its first sitting this year, which starts in Honiara tomorrow.
Minister of Health and Medical Services, Clay Forau will table the bill, which is one of four Government Bills Parliament has received so far, but the order of business for tomorrow is still being finalised.
The Ministry hopes that if the Tobacco Control Bill is passed, smoking in public buses and taxis, motels, hotels and restaurants would be prohibited.
But the Ministry and the manufacturers of tobacco products hold conflicting views on the Tobacco Control Bill.
The Ministry of Health and Medical holds the view that the tobacco control bill is good because smoking is not good for people’s health while the Solomon Islands Tobacco Company reportedly feels it could result in both the company and the country losing millions of dollars from sales and taxes.
Meanwhile, Parliament Office says the three other government bills are the Timber Development and Marketing Authority Bill, the North New Georgia Timber Corporation Amendment Bill, and the Extradition Bill 2010.
It says most MPs have already arrived in the capital for the meeting, which will be the last before Parliament will be dissolved on April 24 to pave the way for new parliamentary elections to be held later in the year.
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