News Briefs

JCTC calls for e-cigarettes impartation ban

KINGSTON (CMC):

The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) is calling for a ban on the importation and sale of e-cigarettes, warning that the product may cause irreversible lung damage and lung disease.

“The total impact on health of e-cigarettes is unknown, but e-cigarette use is associated with lung disease and death. Studies show dangerously high levels of the carcinogen pulegone in menthol-flavoured e-cigarettes,” the JCTC said in a statement yesterday.

Electronic or e-cigarettes are a type of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), which do not burn or use tobacco leaves, but vapourise a solution that is then inhaled.

The JCTC noted that illness associated with e-cigarettes has been associated with flavoured e-cigarettes and vaping liquid mixed with marijuana.

“Second-hand exposure to vaping may also prove harmful, as vaping aerosol may contain flavourings such as chemical diacetyl, which is linked to serious irreversible lung disease; the cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde, and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.

“In light of reported deaths and major lung diseases associated with the use of e-cigarettes, the JCTC believes that smokers will obtain the maximum health benefit by complete cessation of all tobacco and nicotine,” the JCTC added.

 

 

World Bank gives Jamaica $2b grant to cushion natural disasters

The World Bank has announced a US$14.85 million (J$2 billion) grant from the Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF) to support Jamaica in expanding its financial protection against the impact of natural disasters.

The country is vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather events that could threaten the macroeconomic outlook and fiscal gains made in recent years.

“This GRiF grant bears testimony to Jamaica’s strong progress in building fiscal and financial resilience,” said World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Tahseen Sayed, in making the announcement. “The World Bank remains committed to deepening its partnership to help the country in its efforts to sustain these hard-won gains. We are pleased that the GRiF grant is one part of a package of new support provided by the World Bank, which includes US$140 million for fiscal resilience, growth, and enhancing social safety nets.”

The World Bank, with support from the United Kingdom, is providing technical assistance for Jamaica’s preparation of a National Disaster Risk Financing Policy.

The GRiF is a multi-donor trust fund housed at the World Bank, supported by Germany and the United Kingdom, and this grant represents the largest made by GRiF to a middle-income country.

 

 

EOJ: Latest voter ID cards will be tamper-proof

The new voter identification (ID) cards to be issued by the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) during its renewal exercise will be tamper-proof, says assistant director of elections in charge of information systems, Theisea Allison.

“Design and security of the new cards are comparable to the specification standards of a national identification card. The security features are designed within the artwork of the cards. Those features are resistant to counterfeit alterations and other photo substitutions,” Allison said.

“The preprinted cards will be produced by security printers overseas. What we will do in Jamaica is the personalisation, so your name and address will be added. These are cards that are similar to the cards used for the Canadian Permanent Residency and the United States [of America] Green Card. That’s the standard we use for these new cards,” she pointed out.

The cards will have state-of-the-art security features,which include laser-engraved details.

 

 

Teen charged following robbery, shooting

A St James teen has been charged with house breaking, larceny and robbery with aggravation.

The police report that in August, the teen and two other persons allegedly stole a motorcycle from Lammie Lane in Salt Spring in the parish.

It was subsequently recovered by the owner on September 7.

According to the police, the teen and the accomplices then returned to the complainant’s house and demanded the motorcycle.

When the demands were not met, they reportedly opened gunfire at the complainant.

No one was injured in the incident.

The teen was arrested and charged last Friday. A court date has not yet been set.