Governor Fitial’s comments in the Saipan Tribune’s March 10 paper that he will nix the smoking ban plan is a huge blow to all non-smokers and children of the CNMI. Shame on you Governor! It’s okay to be opinionated, but not at the expense of people’s health. It’s also not as forgiving to frequently shoot from the hip. Sometimes you need to keep the target in the scope sights longer before pulling the trigger.
It’s pathetic and an outrage to think that I need to sacrifice my lungs and that of my children and other children and non-smokers in the CNMI so that our prized Asian tourists are not inconvenienced. C'mon Governor, you seem educated enough to know the extreme health hazards associated with secondhand smoke. And, you’ve obviously spent much time in the U.S. mainland and surely you’ve noticed, especially in California, that smoking is banned inside enclosed public establishments. Try lighting up a cigarette in a bar or restaurant in California, and you’re liable to get shot or have something thrown at you. Well here’s an ideal slogan for the Fitial Administration: "Sacrifice your lungs and health for the sake of the CNMI’s economy."
I beg to differ as far as the threat cited by Governor Fitial to our tourist numbers. It is our warm tropical weather, beaches and beach activities, short flight from Asia, affordable golf, SCUBA diving, fishing, and numerous warm weather activities that attract the Asian tourist to the CNMI, NOT the fact that we allow smoking in enclosed public establishments, so suffice it to say the you’re grossly and embarrassingly misinformed. You might want to seek advise from your advisers before commenting on sensitive topics.
Let’s count the ways secondhand smoke can harm you, according to Mayo Clinic, but first let’s identify the two types of secondhand smoke (1) sidestream smoke comes directly from the burning tobacco product and (2) mainstream smoke is smoke that the smoker exhales. Both types are equally damaging to your health, so wouldn’t it be logical to deduce that he or she who wishes to poison their lungs and body by smoking should be required to do so in an open-air location? It’s just like the warning labels on certain cleaning chemical where it is advised to use the product with adequate ventilation so as not to cause harm.
So here are some ailments associated with secondhand smoke: cancer, heart disease, lung disease, chronic coughing, eye and nose irritation, reduced lung function, irritability, asthma, ash tray mouth and other respiratory problems. Feel free to look it up on Mayo Clinic’s website, except for ash tray mouth which is made-up.
Governor Fitial, please reconsider your position and do the right thing by NOT nixing the smoking ban plan. It just might help your re-election bid.
Philip Leyland
Navy Hill
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