THE EDITOR, Sir:

I WAS pleased to read the story about Victor Roach's call to ban smoking in public places. We join with Mr Roach 100 per cent in calling for this action to be taken now. It is quite overdue. The Government of Jamaica must take a proactive stance in calling for a nationwide ban on cigarette smoking now. It can't wait. We need to get the statistics from the Government on the impact of smoking on the health of Jamaicans. Silence cannot be the answer.

Spanish town ready

Jamaica became a signatory to the World Health Organisation Frame-work Convention on Tobacco Control on September 24, 2005, and this organisation is concerned that in 2008, we have no evidence of assiduous work being undertaken to reduce significantly cigarette smoking publicly.

Anyone interested in assisting us in making Spanish Town the first (cigarette) smoke-free town in Jamaica, please contact us. Our organisation - The Smoke-free Action Coalition in Spanish Town - stands ready to include you in petitioning the parish council to ban cigarette smoking in Spanish Town.

I am, etc.,

ROSEMARIE GREENE

spntwncitizensagv@ cwjamaica.com

Director, The Smoke-free

Action Coalition

Spanish Town

St Catherine

Via Go-Jamaica