Members of the public have appealed to the Ministry of Police and Prisons to enforce the law that prohibits smoking in public places.

The Legislative Assembly passed legislation in 2008 that outlawed smoking in offices, public transport as well as restaurants, bars and nightclubs but enforcement has been lax over the last 13 years.

A 49-year-old woman Matalena Mana Toaifale told the Samoa Observer she is concerned with her health and that of children who are in public places and get exposed to smoking by adults and youth.

She believes a child’s continuous exposure to smoke gradually leads to them taking up the habit, even while they are in school.

"I have witnessed so many adults who are in their mid-20s who smoke here (bus station) and there (where vendors sell their produce),” she said.

“But students are there, standing right next to them, I am not sure whether we have any laws that prohibit such acts but if we do I want our police to look into this matter and enforce it. 

“It is not a good sight for our young ones and it's not good for the health of the people who are here at the bus station to wait for their bus.”

Chronic tobacco consumers have been doing it for years, she claims when they smoke in public spaces in contravention of the country’s laws, and she cannot continue to accept that conduct.

"I don't understand these people's mind, they don't think that our children are cameras, what they see happening is what they will do. 

“I hear many people complaining about our youth's attitude and disrespectful actions but it's these kinds of things that they see that they are following. 

“We should all help each other and smoke where it is appropriate but not in public places where a lot of people can access to.”

Melanie Taulagi, an 18-year-law student at the National University of Samoa, expressed similar sentiments and pointed to those who smoke inside public transport.

"I am a law student at N.U.S. and to my understanding there is a law in our Constitution that does not allow people to smoke in areas that are accessible by the public,” she said.

“But personally, I do not smoke, and I actually don't like it when people smoke in places that I am in.

“But it doesn't only happen at the market, it also happens with bus drivers, they smoke while driving.”

The two women then appealed to the Police Ministry to take action and start enforcing the law that was passed over a decade ago.

A Ministry of Health official in February 2019 confirmed that they are working with the Ministry of Police to address the issue.

He warned that those who are caught breaching the laws will be fined. But it is not known if the M.O.H. is still working with the Police to address this issue.