Smoke-free town

Pramesh Naidu, Nadi

As a concerned resident of Nadi, I would like to raise my concerns on the allocation of a smoking area outside the Nadi Municipal Market.

The most displeasing part of this is the sign put up displaying smoking zone with arrows indicating direction with the designation “Order by: NTC ”. A town moving towards being a city has the town council allocating a smoking area just outside the Nadi Market.

There is a public washroom just beside the allocated area. I just wonder how people have to battle through the smoke to attend to nature's call.

Another major threat this allocation causes is the innocent ones being affected, especially those vulnerable to this situation. This includes women and children who visit the market or pass by the allocated smoking area.

Diffusion of gases provides a platform for the smoke to reach those not smoking, causing unwanted damage to their health.

On the other hand, this also encourages our youth to engage in smoking.

The other day when I went to the market I saw 12 people smoking, which included four youths. This is a clear indication that youths are being badly influenced by this allocation of this smoking zone.

I quote from the Fijian Government website press release “Nadi Declared smoke-free town” on the 28th of April, 2014, by the former President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

I do not understand how the Nadi Town Council allocated a smoking area in a smoke-free town. This is a total breach of the declaration made by the then president of Fiji.

I also believe that smoking in public places is not permitted anywhere. I believe relevant authorities should step up and make necessary adjustments in a more intellectual manner making it safe for all Fijians.

We must all move towards making Nadi a smokefree town and city-to-be.