Georgetown councillors conduct media tour

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD9GI1jUc9s” width=”100%” height=”315″]

─ visit all the facilities under the M&CC

DPI, Guyana, Monday, March 4, 2019

The Town clerk and several of the Councillors of Georgetown, today, gave media operatives a first-hand look at the operations of facilities managed by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). The tour was to ascertain the issues with which those departments face and to formulate policies to better address them.

Among the areas visited were the Princes Street Mechanical Compound, the Stone Depot, the South Road Day Care Centre, Industrial Site Day Care Centre, the East Ruimveldt Day Care Centre, Kitty and Lilendaal Pumps, the Le Repentir Cemetery and all the sluices managed by the Council.

Council Members at Stone Depot.

Derelict Vehicles at Stone Depot.

[From left to right], Medical officer of Health, Dr. Suzette Reynolds, Town Clerk, Sharon Harry and Councillor Trichria Richards.

City Council members at Chief Environmental Health Office.

City Council members at the South Road Day care centre.

City Council members at the South Road Day care centre.

While at the South Road Day Care Centre, Chief Environmental Health Officer, Carl Dey said his department conducts monthly checks on lodging houses, salons and barber shops. These inspections are to ensure they meet the minimum requirements for operation which include; an approved building plan from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and clean facilities (toilet and bathroom), clean walls and proper ventilation.

While at the Food Hygiene Department, it was highlighted that food vendors must be granted a licensed Food Handler’s Certificate (FHC) which should be renewed annually at a cost of $5000. Vendors are subject to a stool test that looks for; Tuberculosis (TB), Salmonella and Syphilis. In addition to those tests, there are lectures that holders of an FHC need to attend, should they miss these lectures, their FHCs can be confiscated and their business closed.

Medical Health officer Dr. Suzette Reynolds, added, that a lecture is held daily which begins at 9:30 to 10:15 or 10:30. These seminars are based on food hygiene, the food handler, the surroundings and the cleanliness of the kitchen (counters, utensils).

Town Clerk, Sharon Harry added, “the council will make unannounced visits to businesses to ensure they are in keeping with the M&CC’s policies for operation in the city. Further, the councillors visiting these areas will give them a first-hand look at what affects operations daily and craft policies to fix those issues.”

Kipenie Jordan.

Images: Keno George.