Health and environment

Since the recent revision of fuel prices, which includes higher diesel and kerosene rates, now that kerosene is slightly cheaper than diesel I suggest that the current fuel price system be abolished and a subsidy reintroduced on kerosene. I would like to recommend a kerosene enforcement unit in order to control abuses on the improper use of kerosene by the industry (including shops, hotels and factories), by truck, bus and heavy plant owners and also by motor boat and fishing boat owners.

An enforcement unit will create new job opportunities and help prevent the damaging use of kerosene to the detriment of our health and the environment. However, persons entitled to use kerosene will not be put in a difficult situation and the industry that should be using light heating oil, rather than kerosene, will be rectified.

I would also like to suggest a subsidy of 10 cents per litre on bio-diesel, this to promote its use and with great benefits to our health and the environment. Bio-diesel contains no sulphur content at all. Sulphur found in normal diesel is a potent toxic and carcinogenic constituent of diesel exhaust smoke, apart from the internal corrosion it causes on engine parts. With bio-diesel the oil keeps cleaner and its lubricative properties are not hindered. Bio-diesel produces very little soot from exhaust smoke.

Sulphur causes cancer, particularly lung cancer, and is a very influencing and contributing factor to upper respiratory tract infections and disorders, such as sinusitis and asthma.