About 50 establishments in Roseau which sell food to the public have been certified to resume operations following the passage of Hurricane Maria, Chief Environmental Health Officer Ferdinia Carbon has said.
She said on state-owned DBS Radio, that they had to meet certain requirements before they got the green light.
“We went about re-registering all food place,” she said. “In Roseau, we maybe have about 50 places that have our certificate of approval.”
She stated that establishments began operating after the hurricane and the Environmental Health Department realized they could not allow them to open in the conditions they were in.
Carbon said all places were asked to re-register with the department.
“Everybody had to do that,” she noted. “Not all the persons actually came in to re-register and for those who didn’t come, we actually went to their building. These persons who actually met the standards of environmental health, we were able to give them a certificate of approval.”
She stated that the condition of the buildings of food establishments was looked at, especially the kitchen which had to be clean. Other clean areas include the floors and walls.
The place also had to be free of rodents.
“With the condition of the environment as it was ideal conditions for proliferation of rodents,” she noted. “So we have to ensure you have nothing as rodents and cockroaches and other pests that really contaminate foods.”
Perky’s Pizza was opened before any certificate was issued, while most small businesses was asked to remain close because of all the dust in Roseau. That’s wrong!!!!!
It would be good to release the register of these food establishments to the public; It gives an opportunity to establish a register that is periodically updated rating all food establishment (displayed by the establishments) so that the public can vote with their feet, when deciding were to eat. Visitors will welcome such a list, assured that the establishments (whether small or large) are clean places to eat. Visitors are more likely to spend more knowing that the establishment has a visual rated certificated approved by the government displayed.
Also where’s the list… the article makes no sense… if for example you’re saying that 10 shoe stores are opened but not listing the places where people can purchase shoes.
whats a food place? is that a Restaurant?
50 food places in roseau gets green light for leptospirosis.
Great news but there need to be a published list for public knowledge and guidance
that good news however how will the public know if their place of choice for eating be part of the 50? a list should have been posted/published! Also the health workers should advise the business owners to have their certificate of approval displayed to the public.
where is da list of the 50??,
Those places locations should have been listed so people cant know where to shop.
Very good initiative but can these establishments pleased be legally obliged to display their certificate of approval in a prominent spot for their their customers’ benefit as well as their own. It would instill confidence when someone can be held to account, especially at a time like this.
Simple,! Don’t frequent any eating place that does not display its certificate or refuses to show it.