An education in hygiene

THE EDITOR: On the morning of Monday March 7, while awaiting my turn to have my vehicle serviced at the NP Gas Station opposite the Blood Bank on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, I at first inadvertently but then studiously, observed the unhygienic practices of male drivers who use the public urinal at that service station. Ever so often during my unavoidable sojourn at the station, vehicles, mostly Belmont and Hospital taxis, would drive onto the compound and the chauffeur alight, most of them appearing to be very fidgety, proceed with urgent purpose to the semi-enclosed room on the northern side of the station, to therein deposit whatever liquid waste accumulated in their bladder.

What amazed me was that there was none except one, the driver of a taxi Registration No HBL 2502, who washed their hands after using that urinal. No one else I say! There was one in particular, the driver of HAT 4007, who, during the three hour wait period that I was there, utilised that public dewatering hole three times, and he never once washed his hands. Such aversion to proper lavatory conduct, to my further horror of horrors, was even displayed by the chauffeur/salesman of a marked soft drinks delivery truck, Registration No TBP 4260 when that driver, promptly after relieving himself, proceeded to handle bottled beverages which he and his crew had come to deliver to the service station, beverages, mind you, which would be ultimately sold to the unsuspecting public.

I would suggest to NP that they ensure that there is a working water faucet with an adequate stock of soap installed next to every public convenience in their every service station and that signs be strategically placed reminding users to wash up after using such conveniences. As to the taxi drivers, come on men! How could you be so unclean? If NP doesn’t provide for your washing up, have a bottle of clean water and soap in your car trunk. Remember! As taxi drivers you are always in close physical contact with your passengers and with their money as you collect your fare and give change when required. Owners I hope, will immediately implement an education programme and simultaneously ensure that an adequate truck-borne supply of water etc for the use of their delivery crews is provided on their every delivery truck. In the mean time, thank God that I have my own vehicle.

RICHARD WM THOMAS
Arouca