Councillors of the Linden Regional Democratic Council (RDC) are of the opinion that the butcher shops operating in the mining town are not properly monitored and their transport and operating practices do not meet standards required for safe consumption. This issue was brought up during the statutory meeting held last Thursday where several councillors used the opportunity to voice their concerns on the matter.
Councillors expressed disappointment in the way the bulk meat is being transported to shops. According to the councillors, it is often times done on the backs of the butchers, in wheelbarrows, and in go-carts, uncovered and exposed to whatever bacteria may be in the atmosphere.
Councillor Gordon Callender spoke about the setting on the Mackenzie Wharf and noticed butchers transporting their beef uncovered in dirty wheelbarrows to their butcher shops.
The wharf is located in proximity to the market’s dump site and that environment is infested with flies.
This, he said, is an urgent matter to address as the health of consumers is at stake.
Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, who also spoke on the issue, said some years ago, a fellow councillor noticed beef lying in a boat and when checks were made, it contained tuberculosis.
Regional Health Committee Chairman, Dr Gregory Harris, told the Council that the matter was raised several times at public health meetings and a recommendation was made to address the situation.
It was recommended that a monitoring unit be set up on the Linden Soesdyke Highway at ‘Millies Hide Out’, the junction where Linden starts, to facilitate stricter monitoring of meat entering the town.
Councillors also recommended that the meat be transported in a more “civilised way” to avoid exposure to any form of airborne bacteria.
They had previously called for an abattoir to be re-established in the town as this would aid in the monitoring process.
The Regional Chairman reiterated that the recommendations should be forwarded to the Linden Mayor and Town Council, since it is under that Council’s remit and not that of the RDC.
In an invited comment, Senior Environmental Health Officer attached to the Mayor and Town Council, Crystal Drakes, told the Guyana Chronicle that the Council’s Environmental Department works along with the Veterinary Health Inspector attached to the Linden Hospital Complex, to monitor butcher shops in Linden.
She said however, the team is not often aware of when the meat is being transported to the shops and its inspections are done some time after.
“In terms of the transporting of the meat, many times when they bringing it in we are not aware of the day and time and so we will work as early as today pertaining to that to see how best we can monitor them when they are transporting it. She revealed however that there are not many cases where meat is condemned but they are willing to hold consultations with the RDC to fill any loopholes in the process.”