Fraser wants stronger action on Tobacco control
Deputy Premier Julian Fraser has called for stronger tobacco control in the territory, urging the government to impose higher taxes on cigarettes to discourage smoking and generate revenue.
Fraser made the remarks during the debate on the Tobacco Products Control (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the House of Assembly. The legislation, which seeks to strengthen public health protections against smoking, especially for young people and vulnerable groups, is part of wider efforts to reduce tobacco use in the territory.
“I commend the minister for the things that he is doing. I’m supporting him. But the one thing he should do is price the cigarettes out of the people’s reach,” Fraser stated.
Fraser, who admitted to smoking in his youth, said the territory should follow the example of other countries that have used financial penalties to drive down tobacco use.
“The Americans got wise and they woke up and they protested and rebelled against tobacco products… and Winston-Salem and Philip Morris ended up paying off billions of dollars. You hit them where it hurts, in their pockets,” he explained.
Fraser argued that taxing cigarettes heavily could help both reduce consumption and raise funds for the government. “He can make some good money from tobacco products. Put a tax on it. He can triple, triple, double it, double, triple it. Whatever you guys do about taxes—out of the reach. Now, here, do it now,” he urged.
While praising the bill, Fraser expressed frustration with what he described as a hesitant approach to enforcement and regu lation.
“It’s still immensely popular, and it’s because of the pussyfooting that goes on like we’re doing here right now,” he stated.
Fraser added that the territory has “matured to the point where we can relegate tobacco products to the payoff box,” suggesting that firms wanting to sell tobacco should bear the full cost of its impact.
“I smoked at one time. I smoked a pack a weekend… I was young, dumb, stupid, and everything. I did all that stuff,” he reflected.
In 2022, the BVI introduced a ban on smoking in public places, including restaurants, bars, and workplaces, as part of a broader tobacco control campaign. The current amendment seeks to close loopholes in the original legislation and strengthen penalties for violations.
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Google Professor Calculus . lol
lol, Professor Calculus has a bit more style!
Locals don’t really smoke – not tobacco anyway – so this is a tax on the Whites and downislanders and they can afford to pay based on their earnings here.
Take a drive down to Sea Cows Bay and check the state of the property right across from this man’s abandoned business/building, where abandoned water plant is, and tell me if this man is serious? How many locals are really into Tobacco products? Can you show us the reports from the health facilities confirming issues with persons using tobacco products in the BVI? I can guarantee you that you have alarming reports at NHI showing the effects of poor diets, right? Are we going to ban rum, sweets, salty goods, processed goods from our shelves? If not, shut the f**k up and continue on your quest for ultimate power. You guys simply love to hear yourselves speak and really do not give a s**t about the people. Kids are being diagnosed with diabetes at an alarming rate, you do not have enough dialysis machines at the Hospital. Persons are on pressure and other tablets from the age of 30 and hear what this man is talking about?
This ma sacrificed his live for ungrateful people like you so
For people like me? You sound like a f**king i**ot. That man was never successful at anything that’s why he cannot leave politics, it’s all about power and prestige not about helping anybody. List one thing that he has done for BVI in a real meaningful way, having been in power over 25yrs. You guys get a little sidewalk cleaning and bush cutting contract and they are GOD to you. I work for mine and don’t need p**ps like Fraser and others.
That is the person responsible for making cellphones services affordable for everyone and he also assisted this island by keeping it stable for the past 25 years to keep your ungrateful a$$ living comfortably.
That was Jarecki
Why don’t you run for a seat and see if you if you will be fortunate enough to win once much less 6 times?
It is he who is responsible for providing the water to bathe your dutty skin.
providing WHAT water? the water that barely on????????????????
Sea Cows Bay has turned into a damn GHETTO. Look how nasty and busted Sea Cows Bay look.If you are going to ban Tobacco you should also ban the rum shops and the whore houses in Sea Cows Bay as well. All of you that have houses in Sea Cows Bay your property value is going to take a big drop.
Okay if that’s the rational (price out of reach of residents and visitors) why not do the same for ALCOHOL?!?!? While we are at it with these DRACONIAN ideas, have a go at all the equipment that spew toxins while they are driving along the public roadways. How about all the sewerage run-offs polluting areas. The open burning of trach at Pockwood Pond.
They say they stop burning trash at pockwood pond buddy. Still no real update on the incinerator tho. I do agree how he got strength for cigarettes and ignore alcohol when it got a rum shop every 10 feet and more alcoholics than cigarette smokers in this place especially in HIS district.
I not against this but it just feel like they trying to find everything else to do but tackle the issues we want addressed. Consumer protection? Freedom of information? Minimum wage increase update? Sex offenders registry? Immigration reform? Stronger gun laws? Food security? Ideas on boosting the local economy other than throwing party?
Your about 30 years behind the rest of the world on this one.
Water control, so everyone has it, all the time.
Way to waist space when there are many other things to consantrate on.
Did all that stuff. uh huh. Turn your back on it but smokers will smoke you should know that. The criminals will end up smuggling it.
And a living hike in Social Security and Pension monthly payments.
Those isssues need to tackled, dealth with and resolved for the greater good of the seniors who have toiled, some for over forty five and fifty years, only to find themselves being buried under silent hunger, financial struggle and worsening mental illness as a result.
The have all approved for their old age and pensions amount with their Greedy Bill and other perks, but the ones who have contributed so much of their time, labor and expertise are left uncared for and holding a shitty bag.
God Lord, help them tosee their selfishness and turn their hearts towards something good.
What does the BVI trade with the USVI is a common question. A simple answer is tobacco. Cuban cigars, cigarettes and the leaf itself. Many locals smoke tobacco, that is the irritant that bothers most when receiving 2nd hand smoke. Most locals have European smoking habits amd smoke when drinking and/or mix their Marijuana with tobacco to blend it for less inhalation and reduced coughing. Many locals have wisely chosen to smoke the more ital spliff and live tobacco free but 880% of them use tobacco soaked in molasses with their herbal blend. The rastas call it back-to-fronto instead of tobacco,which thru time became called funta and now some ppl call it grabba. So it is more relevant than you think. The USA has moved away from tobacco in pure form and now many there prefer the vapor ofrm of the product. Europe and Asia are lagging behind in this new tobacco free lifestyle. So depending on where the expat is from, smoking could be very socially acceptable. To combat that lack of uniformity of etiquette legislation was needed. It is certainly not the iggest issue on the average person’s agenda list but there is nothing wrong with addressing it. That being said, as a tourist dependent economy, let’s not make them feel like we’re heartless because habits are hard to break and we want them to come here still. So designated smoking areas are needed so that they can get their fix but they can understand no smoking in hotel rooms because the tar from cigarettes stain the room for the next guest.
yall need control the coco coming in and what yall preaching to the youths who commiting crime while still in school
Working people cannot afford eggs and bread but this d**b f**ker is here ranting about Tobacco as if locals are smoking tobacco. What a f**king cl**n seeking political points knowing full well that tobacco never was and never will be a local problem on a worrying scale. Tourists and a few expats that reside here are the ones who smoke tobacco products for the most part. What are his ideas as Deputy Premier of this Territory in 2025 to assist middle class families who are on the edge economically? Your middle class is almost diminished and the persons at the lower end are flat out in crisis but let’s focus on the important stuff like tobacco. Who needs running water, proper roads, schools, mold free buildings etc. Sadly persons will vote for this relic again come 2027.
from depending on government for handouts!
Its dumb people like yourself who have to pay his pension for life….So who is the d..b f….r now?
THE UNDEFEATED UNDISPUTED CHAMPION J FRASER
Fraser needs to go sit his tired behind down. People is sick and tired of this old school politics. Everywhere else the Politicians is getting younger and younger. Only here in the BVI you got a set of old tough ram goats c..k blockers trying to block everything from moving forward with their old ways of thinking and doing things.
Ralph Gonsalves, Putin and Trump are way older than Fraser
Everywhere else like where? Fraser is the only person over 50 except for Hon. Hodge-Smith in the Gvernment, well and Ms. Corner, who has no power, but age seems to be the new disease in the world. Hope you young clowns don’t die young so you can reap what you are sowing. This disrepect that you’re showing persons who have toiled and built this country to what it is while you all destroy it now and want to put them out to pasture will certainly come back to bite you. Trust me, every generation is worse than the one before and you guys are obviously not teaching them manners because you all don’t have a drop. Hope they have grandparents that are alive. Oh sorry, grandparents need to go sit down in a corner and be quiet too. Poor young people, destined to fail with attitudes like this one. Common sense is not common nor is respect.
So we can’t smoke in the bars at the Pier Park anymore??
As he constantly crosses the floor for his own benefit .
FIX TOBACCO……STOP SMOKING
Julian Fraser its time for you to get out.