PHILIPSBURG--A total of 1,300 food safety inspections were conducted at food establishments in St. Maarten in 2015, Health Minister Emil Lee told Members of Parliament (MPs) during the continuation of the meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on the draft 2016 budget on Thursday.
The inspections were conducted all around the country, including at restaurants and food establishments in Philipsburg, Cole Bay, Simpson Bay and Maho. During the 1,300 inspections last year, the operations of three establishments were closed for food safety violations.
A total of 80 food safety inspections have been conducted thus far for 2016 and a total of four food establishments have been closed, Lee said. He was responding at the time to questions posed by MPs.
Some of the inspections were joint ones conducted with other agencies such as Immigration, Social and Health Care Insurance SZV, etc.
The joint controls have come under fire after a recent control at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino was criticised heavily by the resort and guests who labelled it as “aggressive,” and “shameful.”
The joint controls have since been temporarily suspended pending the presentation of a report on the Maho inspection, which had not yet been received by the Council of Ministersup to yesterday. However, Lee had said earlier that the Health Inspectorate would continue with its food controls.
