Unsanitary means of handling meat continue in Linden – Councillor

…Regional Chairman to write LM&TC again

Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) Councillor Gordon Callendar has stressed that, despite the recent voicing of concerns over what the Council has described as the unsanitary means of transporting meat at the Mackenzie Market in Linden, the practice has since continued.

At the most recent statutory meeting of the Council, he sought to inquire if the Region’s health department is monitoring the activities, and if discussions for the proposed abattoir in the Region were progressing.
“We’ve been talking about the unsanitary conditions and the way how meat is being transported in Region 10, especially in the market areas…but this thing still continue. The handling of the meat on the market still continues as the normal practice – in the wheelbarrows…,” Callendar stressed.
He was, however, reminded by Regional Chairman Renis Morian that the sanitary practices at the markets fall under the jurisdiction of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC). Morian said he would have the administration re-write the LM&TC in an effort to secure an update in regard to the monitoring of activities.
He also alluded to the option of engaging the Council in conversation. “We did talk with the Town Council before. We want to know what action has been taken so far…It’s the Council’s responsibility. A letter was sent to the Council. We have to send another letter to the Council, asking what they’re doing, because they haven’t responded to us…,” the Regional Chairman said.

In response to the concerns, representatives of the Guyana Livestock Development Agency (GLDA) were expected to meet with officials of the Regional Health Committee, to discuss a proposal for the possibility of the construction of an abattoir in the Region.
Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Dr Gregory Harris, had stated last month that plans to construct the abattoir were fast-tracked after several complaints were made by Councillors and officials of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) over alleged unsanitary practices regarding the handling of commercial meat in the Linden community.
Dr Harris had disclosed that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GLDA had later made contact with the Region’s Health Committee regarding the proposal. The status of the discussion is however unclear.
Dr Harris said the Committee also had discussions with the health workers at the Town Council, and that a spot for the proposed abattoir was expected to be identified. He said a recommendation was made sometime last year to set up a monitoring unit along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, and he explained that he had proposed for a system to be implemented whereby meat coming in to the Region could be monitored.
Nevertheless, he said, an environmental officer would usually carry out sanitary checks at various butcher’s shops in the Linden community. Callender had questioned whether the Regional Health Department is functioning, and whether it is moving around the Region to monitor the situation.
Callender was one of the Councillors who had brought to the fore the issue of unsanitary practices by vendors of meat, an issue which he stated had needed to be urgently addressed. Councillor Tracy Johnson had also called for the monitoring of butcher’s shops in the community.
Meanwhile, Morian has said it was necessary for public health workers to do the necessary work. He pointed out that, years ago, tuberculosis was detected on meat at Linden after an alarm was raised.