PoS Mayor to identify unsanitary eating places

Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown will hold a media briefing 9 am today in the Council Chamber at City Hall to discuss the recent inspection of eating places by the Public Health Department (PHD) and closure of some businesses due to unsanitary conditions. It is expected that the Mayor will list these businesses today. There have been calls for the PoS Corporation and PHD to release the names of the businesses closed in the interest of the public, but the Mayor said last week that he did not have this information. In a radio interview yesterday however, Brown said the names of the businesses closed due to poor health practices were faxed to him last Friday in a memorandum identifying the places which were inspected.

TT Manufacturers Association president Anthony Aboud said the TTMA welcomed the inspection of eating places because many people relied on fast food outlets for their lunch. Aboud said it is critical that the overall quality of these places is ensured and consumer health protected. He said the decision not to reveal the names could have been due to the “Corporation thinking that this may be discriminatory to the eating place.” Aboud said revealing names without detailing why a place was closed can have an adverse impact on them. He said some might have been closed for a “minor infraction.” Aboud said businesses should be given the chance to upgrade.

He said the focus should be on the positive and that the Public Health Inspectorate should do its work and ensure that eating establishments adhere to guidelines for good sanitary practices. Since the inspection programme has started, Aboud said the onus is now on the food establishments to maintain their facilities.