MoBay food vendors embrace cleanliness

Food vendors in Montego Bay say they have been applying the knowledge gained from a recent training programme on proper hygienic practices initiated by the St James Health Department.

The training session was designed to counter a rat infestation problem in the tourist capital last year. That was compounded by the unlawful waste disposal habits of some business operators and vendors.

Several vendors with whom the WESTERN STAR spoke recently indicated that following the health department’s education drive, they have taken to supplying themselves with sanitary equipment to keep themselves and their vending spaces clean.

“We carry our own soap and water because our drums have to keep clean. We have our own brooms, and when we come at evening time, we just keep the place clean,” said Oliver Madourie, a jerk chicken vendor who plies his trade along the Hip Strip.

Veronica Ramson, a juice and cane vendor who sells on the same stretch, said: “We have to get cleaning things for ourselves because when we went to the class, that’s what they told us. We learned a lot from the class.”

Soup vendor Harold Brown, who sells along Market Street in the commercial district, is also practising what he was taught.

“I have a gentleman who picks up what I have, and we don’t leave anything overnight because that will hurt people. I have water, and I use my bucket when I want to wash my hands,” said Brown.

Last August, St James health inspector Lennox Wallace announced plans to hold the training session on cleanliness techniques with the vendors to go hand in hand with a rat-baiting exercise along Gloucester Avenue and its environs.