I AM HAPPY TO NOTE that at last action has been taken against smoking in public places – indoors.
Dr Tony Gale must be congratulated for his persistence in fighting the unhealthy habit. However, it seems that, as Sir Grantley once said, “Barbadians have short memories”, as it was I who took the matter to Parliament.
On October 9, 1975, I gave notice of a Resolution in the Senate concerning the dangers of smoking and that appropriate action should be taken to address the matter.
I produced research done by international medical institutions that smoking can cause bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, heart disease, cancer of the mouth, breast cancer, and so on.
The then Attorney General, George Moe, assured me that the necessary action would be taken to address the matter.
The machinery was put in place, however, the Democratic Labour Party lost the election in 1976 and nothing more was done.
Again, when the Government had agreed to put fluoride in our water system which supposedly would solve tooth decay, I did research on the subject matter and tabled a motion in the Senate demonstrating that such a move would be medicating the whole society with disastrous results.
The Government scrapped the idea and the then Prime Minister Errol Barrow called to thank me for enlightening the Government.
GORDON MATTHEWS
