Ministry calls for action on backyard slaughtering

THE Ministry of Health has called on the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation to take action against butchers caught slaughtering animals in their backyards for sale in the Penal market. The ministry has warned that people who purchase beef, goat and pork, can be exposed to zoonotic diseases. A letter from the County Health Administration in the St Patrick Division has been sent to the chief executive officer of the Corporation on the matter. The letter was signed by County Medical Officer of Health, Dr Selwyn Mohan, (St Patrick) and Linton Rampersadsingh, acting Public Health Inspector IV (Victoria/St Patrick). It stated discussions were held with officers of the Corporation about the issue, “but we have not received any information to date despite several verbal requests to your office.”

The letter stated that cattle, sheep and goats were being slaughtered in backyards and under trees at certain butchers’ homes. There is no inspection of the animals before the meat is sold to the public, the letter stated. The meat is sold at the market without any checks or form of control being carried out by the market clerk. The correspondence listed the names of the butchers and the residential addresses where animals were being slaughtered. This list was submitted by Chandrawatee Ramlochan, Public Health Inspector II. The letter stated that the county health department was willing to assist the Corporation in effecting a solution to the problem.