Those random operations near Stabroek Market

Apr 06, 2014 News

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One would notice that the area around Stabroek Market is crammed with shoppers, vehicles and vendors of all kinds on any given day…or night. In the midst of those persons who sell food around the minibus and car parks, are the barbers. Yes, the barbers.
When hair is cut it is more often than not, allowed to fly into the already dusty surroundings.
Imagine all kinds of hair being transported by wind into that box of delicious-looking cook-up rice that you just purchased from a nearby street side vendor. Not so enticing is it?

Or how about when it rains? After a few minutes of rainfall, the city of Georgetown is literally under water, water that has been mixed with toxic sewer substances and refuse.
This scenario is apart from what would happen in the presence of ghastly piles of garbage, which would increase the existence of germ-infested flies; and chances are, these are likely to land on an edible item that someone might just end up putting in their mouths.
When persons buy food, it must be safe to eat. It must be prepared and kept in hygienic and clean conditions. People involved in food handling must also be given adequate training in hygiene. The selling of food has to also be guarded by strict safety rules, and as such, it is imperative that their operations be supervised, in compliance with the law.
But then again, hundreds of Guyanese purchase from street-side food vendors on a daily basis, and although there are regulations, these aren’t put into action. Guyana is the kind of country where persons take liberty in haphazardly setting up businesses. People have to make a living, but not many do so the way it ought to be done.
Firstly, a person cooking and selling food needs to have a Food Handler’s Licence, and to do so, the applicant would have to comply with a few regulations. Such vendors would also be restricted from smoking in the environs of their businesses.
Food Handlers would also need to ensure that their bodies and clothing are kept clean at all times. It would be a breach of regulations if food handlers are to have uncovered cuts or bruises.
Food being sold also has to be kept at certain temperatures, and vending premises have to be in proper condition. Customers have every right to report cases where they believe vendors are violating the food handling regulations. Despite this, unhygienic conditions continue to be a feature of food selling here in Guyana.

The city is crowded and vendors continue to force themselves into the heart of Georgetown, where they believe business is better. It must also be taken into consideration that everyone is looking to make a living, trying to make as much money as they can.
As a result, the congestion is becoming even more chaotic, and among other things, food continues to be sold amid innumerable health risks. Years have passed and this continues to be an issue that officials seem not prepared to deal with. One would arrive at such a conclusion since key persons have been hesitant to speak on the topic.
When contacted recently, representatives of the Food and Drug Analyst Department declined to comment, advising that questions be forwarded to those who have authority over what goes on in the capital city.
However, even though the questions were not at all of the “controversial type” that many would want to shy away from, relevant officials of the Mayor and City Council were still tightlipped.
Many of them claimed that they have received orders from “high-up” to not speak with the press.
Nonetheless, in an invited comment, A Partnership for National Unity parliamentarian and Shadow Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton, said that the unhealthy situation that continues to occur in the city is one that has to be examined thoroughly.
He noted that massive changes cannot happen overnight, but insisted that regulating the surroundings of especially the market area, would require careful designing and significantly revised plans.
“It is worrying, yes, that the area is so crammed, and the health aspect of it is particularly disturbing, especially when it rains and so, but trying to change the situation and avoiding such unhygienic scenarios is something that has to be examined carefully.”
Dr. Norton said that had he been the Minister of Health, he would try to embark on a food court.
“We have to understand that people need to build on their lives, so they need to make money. That is why we can’t just remove the people from where they are. We have to make arrangements, and have them be placed somewhere where they can continue their work. I think a food court of some sort would be a good thing. Such a facility, though, would have to be equipped with all the hygienic amenities; washroom area and so on.”
Norton said too that Food Inspectors should be more vigilant in ensuring that food handlers are complying with the regulations of safe food handling.
This publication also spoke with two food vendors operating on Croal Street, Georgetown, next to the Demico House outlet. They were obviously not excited about showcasing the health hazards attached to selling food in an insanitary environment.
“Is nah we fault. We got to make a living, we ain’t robbing nobody, and is nah like we don’t be careful, everybody does be careful how they handling the food,” one woman said.
She said that she has been selling food in the area for several years now, and has even been able to attract a reasonable clientele.
“People know that we been selling here for how long, and this is where the business is. The bus park is here, and is dey does buy most of the food. If dey put we somewhere else, we ain’t really gon mek nothing,” the food vendor maintained.
She insisted, “The only way we gon move is if they find us a proper place where we gon get sales, because if we have to move, we want to go somewhere that we can make money.”
Another vendor explained that oftentimes, the condition of their working environment would be more of an inconvenience to the vendors than the people who buy.
“We try our best to make the place clean, and when it isn’t, is we does tek the stress. It does bother us, and inconvenience us. So it would be good if they could find somewhere good and put us,” the woman stated.

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