During a meeting presided by Tony Benavente, the press information officer of the Saipan mayor’s office and the committee’s co-vice chairman, the panel said it will give special recognition to establishments that have banned smoking in their workplaces.
“This is a good way to promote awareness and set up an example to the community,” according to Community Guidance Center prevention services manager and smoke-free establishment subcommittee head Reyna Saures.
The committee also wants to conduct anti-tobacco educational programs for community groups.
Howard I. Macaranas, Office of Aging director and committee co-vice chairman, said the recognition of private establishments, especially restaurants, that are smoke-free is a “very strong message to promote a clean environment in the CNMI.”
Early this year, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial vetoed House Bill 16-47 which proposed to ban smoking in public places.
“I’m against that because you know I just came back from Honolulu last year and I noticed that the occupancy at the hotel I usually stay in has gone down dramatically because the Japanese will never stay there anymore — they don’t allow people to smoke anymore at that hotel,” the governor said.
Also included in the plans for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Awareness Recovery Month in September are a proclamation signing, a joint legislative resolution, sports activities, a media campaign, youth advocacy, a “challenge master” and a prevention program fair at the Civic Center.
This year’s theme is “Join the Voice for Recovery: Real People, Real Recovery.”
All sub-committees are expected to submit the final draft and details of their programs by Aug. 15 while the tentative schedule for the proclamation signing is Aug. 27. The venue is the Department of Public Health’s conference room.
