The Bloomberg Global Initiative To Reduce Tobacco Use

1. The Bloomberg Global InitiativeTo Reduce Tobacco Use The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Overview of Project Jamaica RI-02, April 2010-June 2011

2. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) was established in 1971 and is a member of The InterAmerican Heart Foundation and The World Heart Federation. HFJ is involved in prevention programmes for cardiovascular disease. The establishment of The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) was spearheaded by HFJ and was launched on May 31, World No Tobacco Day, 2002.

3. Guyana, October 2010

4. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Current Project Staff Project Director- Deborah Chen Project Manager- Barbara McGaw Communications Officer- Dawn Williams Project Officer Barbados- Nadia Adams Project Officer Guyana- Darshanand Rampersaud Project Officer T & T- Rosemarie Gajar Project Consultant - Beatriz Champagne

5. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectProject Objectives The Project’s primary objective is to assist in achieving a strong CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) cigarette labelling standard, and to ensure implementation of the standard or equally strong requirements in four target countries: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.

6. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Project Objectives • The Project aims to assist CARICOM to implement rotating pictorial-based warning labels on tobacco products sold in Caribbean countries, of a minimum size of 50% of the top of each main face of the packaging. • Although the project covers four target countries, other member states of CARICOM will also benefit from this labelling standard.

7. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project The use of health warnings Although each country has the authority to regulate tobacco packaging on a national basis, CARICOM has overall authority to develop standards. Although these standards are not legally required, they are customarily adopted by CARICOM countries.

8. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project

9. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Project oversight and legal responsibility • The HFJ has overall responsibility for implementation of the project in the four Caribbean countries. • Contracts were written with each partner NGO and country budgets agreed. • Funds dispersed and reporting systems as per contract. • Project audit and site visit from TFK January 2011.

10. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Project scope • Funding for this project is specifically related to activities which will ensure the implementation of rotating picture-based package warnings on tobacco products sold in Caribbean countries. • We have lobbied successfully for approved activities related to accelerating tobacco control legislation and offering technical support through Legal consortium of TFK . • The HFJ plans to apply for further funding to address the many other important areas related to tobacco control such as SFE and tobacco legislation.

11. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Project Objectives Objective 1: Build political support and promote public awareness (civil society) through direct advocacy and media activities targeted at influencing decision makers at a national and regional level Objective 2: Support key organisations in the steps needed to implement the GHW and tobacco control policies at a country level

12. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectOur Project Partners

13. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectOur Project Partners The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados Inc. (HSFB) is a non profit organisation and was founded in 1985. The HSFB is a member of the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) for tobacco control.

14. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectOur Project Partners The Guyana Chest Society was established in 1921 for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis. It is a non-profit non-governmental organization. It is affiliated with The International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.

15. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectOur Project Partners The Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society is a non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary service organization whose main purpose is to promote the early detection of cancer through screening, education and advocacy. It was established in 1971.

16. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectOur Project Partners The InterAmerican Heart Foundation based in Dallas USA, was established in 1994. Its mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke in the Americas

17. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectKey Organisations

18. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectKey Organisations CARICOM is the organization of 15 Caribbean nations and dependencies, as well as 5 associate members. CARICOM’s main purposes are to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to coordinate foreign policy.

19. Project team at CARCICOM Headquarters, October 2010

20. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectKey Organisations CARICOM has been charged with implementation of this project throughout the region. We work with CARICOM at three levels: CARICOM –CROSQ (Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality) CARICOM – COTED MEETINGS (Council for Trade and Economic Development) CARICOM HEALTH SECTOR DEVELOPMENT and COHSOD (The Council For Human And Social Development,)

21. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectKey Organisations REGIONAL MINISTRIES OF HEALTH OF THE TARGET COUNTRIES These Ministries are committed to the project and all Governments have signed the FCTC treaty. All these Ministries have tobacco control activities and programmes but not dedicated staff. We have built a strong relationship with Minister Ramsammy, MOH of Guyana who is also the head of COHSOD and was the Chairman of the WHA.

22. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectKey Organisations We have also been working with other organisations such as the Caribbean Cardiac Society, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition-who have both endorsed the project: the Caribbean College of Physicians, the regional and country offices of PAHO/WHO, the Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the Non-Smokers' Rights Association (Canada).

23. Press release from CCS supporting the GHW standards and endorsing project

24. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General situation in the region with respect to GHW

25. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General Situation in the region with respect to GHW The situation leading up to the CROSQ approval of the standards: Trinidad’s TC legislation includes provision for a local GHW standard for which the Ministry of Health is responsible. Barbados’ series of legislative bills has a provision for GHW as well, though not yet proclaimed. Major facilitation from Project for acquisition of required 24 images; images and written Standard submitted to CROSQ. As prescribed by CARICOM, CROSQ disseminated the draft Standard to the regional territories for their review and comments. CROSQ then submitted it to COTED.

26. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General Situation in the region with respect to GHW The situation since CROSQ submitted the approved standard to COTED COTED requires a 100% “yes” vote from members (this is the CARICOM definition of consensus for the two bodies). Some countries at the CROSQ level voted ‘no’ or abstained from voting. When COTED met in June 2010, discussion was deferred to next meeting on the grounds that more intra regional discussion was needed, as well as concerns from the territories where cigarette manufacturing provided significant employment. Project ascertained the standard would be on the agenda for the next COTED meeting. Project continues its efforts with CROSQ, CARICOM Health Sector Development unit and the country standards bureau to encourage countries to change their vote to yes in order to have consensus.

27. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General situation in the region with respect to GHW REGIONAL NEXT STEPS CROSQ Council sends Final Draft to COTED, (Hopefully Feb 2011) . COTED approval means Final Draft is the recognised Regional Standard. COTED returns Standard to CROSQ for editorial review and publication as Regional Standard. Each territory will then be responsible for adopting the standard using their national standards process Regional Standard disseminated within CARICOM for adoption.

28. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General situation in the region with respect to GHW Jamaica NEXT STEPS BSJ Standards Council sends the approved CARICOM standard to the Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce for approval as the Jamaican Standard. Minister signs both a Gazette Notice of (the Order) and a Gazette Order.  Order makes standard mandatory for Jamaica (Notice and Order are also published at same time). A three-month official "no objection" period ensues. Cigarette manufacturers then have a nine-month period to phase out old and implement new labels.

29. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General situation in the region with respect to GHW Barbados NEXT STEPS Draft Standard presented to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Empowerment, Innovation, Trade, Industry and Commerce for endorsement. Standard is posted in the official Gazette . A targeted public awareness campaign ensues, involving manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers. Training of technical officers from the Department of Commerce and Consumers Affairs who have responsibility for enforcement takes place.

30. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General situation in the region with respect to GHW Guyana NEXT STEPS CARICOM Draft prepared and submitted to relevant Committee. Reviewed and disseminated for public comment. Public Comments and Final Draft approved by National Standards Council as the Guyana Standard. This standard sent with Cabinet Memorandum to Minister (National Standards Council may publish for sale). Standard submitted to Cabinet, the final approval body. Standard is Gazetted and published as the definitive country Standard.

31. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General situation in the region with respect to GHW Trinidad & Tobago NEXT STEPS The enactment of the CARICOM standards is the purview of the Ministry of Health - not the standards bureau. The regulations governing the implementation of the standards form part of pending legislation – when enacted, the tobacco industry is legally obligated to put GHWs on cigarette packages. The local manufacturers (WITCO) and importers of cigarettes have to conform to the T&T regulations.

32. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project General situation in each of the 4 target countries with respect to tobacco control policy Country SWOTS

37. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectNotable achievements Status of legislation in target countries

40. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Update on progress under the projects two objectives Objective 1: Build political support and promote public awareness (civil society) through direct advocacy and media activities targeted at influencing decision makers at a national and regional level Objective 2: Support key organisations in the steps needed to implement the GHW and tobacco control policies at a country level

41. The Caribbean Tobacco Control Project Notable achievements

42. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectNotable achievements • Full Project team assembled and in place in four countries (after two staff changes), one training and one project meeting held to date. • Close working relationships formed with IAHF, MOHs, BOS Jamaica, CROSQ, CARICOM and other key partners. • Best practice brochure, fact sheet and other key materials prepared and distributed widely .

43. October 2010, GUYANA

44. The Caribbean Tobacco Control ProjectNotable achievements • Increased awareness of project due to advocacy including media workshops, attendance at health fairs, WNTD activities, distribution of key material, meetings with national standards bureaus and members of civil society. • Strong networking with umbrella trade union organisations and other civil society bodies such as students (secondary & tertiary levels), teachers, NGOs, including presentations on GHW.

45. BMEX, Barbados April 2010, HSFB/Project Booth

46. WNTD May 2010 - Barbados

47. WNTD May 2010 -Jamaica

48. WNTD Exhibition Guyana, May 2010

49. WNTD May 2010 Guyana

50. The Minister of Health T&T presents the PAHO/WHO award for Tobacco Control to TTCS – July 2010