PHILIPSBURG--Health Minister Emil Lee on Wednesday debunked assertions from some Members of Parliament (MPs) that the Health Inspectorate’s food safety inspections had been hindered and obstructed when the joint inspections were temporarily suspended pending a review on February 5.
“There was no hindrance and no interference,” Lee told MPs during an urgent plenary session of parliament on Wednesday.
MPs Leona Marlin-Romeo, Cornelius de Weever and Franklin Meyers had called for the urgent meeting after authorities temporarily suspended the joint multi-Ministry inspections after a joint inspection at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino went awry with reports of guests being harassed, an employee being shackled and allegations of hostility during the process.
Lee said the Inspectorate of Health had not discontinued any of its inspections on food establishments. He said it was the joint inspections that were being conducted by a team from multiple Ministries that had been suspended pending an investigation into what had occurred at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort. Lee said there had been “allegations about improper behaviour” and this is in the process of being investigated.
Lee said the Council of Ministers temporarily suspended the joint inspections for review and discussion as to how it should continue and to determine whether the procedures need to be revised. The Health Minister said he also supported the stopping of the joint controls and noted that individual controls by the individual Ministries are still continuing including food safety inspections.
The joint inspections are organised by Immigration which falls under the Justice Ministry. None of the groups that participate in the joint inspections are privy to the inspection locations beforehand. Half an hour before the inspections are held the groups meet and only then is the location revealed, Lee said.
He added that Ministers are not involved in giving directives and this was also not the case for the Maho inspection on February 4. In exceptional cases such as if a Minister receives reports on violation issues at a particular location, can a Minister issue a directive for a control. In the latter case the Minister can also request a report on the outcome of that inspection.
Lee said the Justice Ministry is currently compiling a report about the Maho incident. All Ministries involved in the inspection are to submit their respective report to the Justice Ministry and that Ministry will compile a full report. The Health Ministry has already completed its part of the report and submitted this to the Justice Ministry on February 8. Copies of the Health Ministry’s report were shared with MPs.
Lee said only 0.37 per cent of the health operations of establishments inspected by the Health Inspectorate in 2015 had been stopped due to violations; while thus far in 2016, a total of 6.7 per cent of the health operations of food establishments inspected had been halted because of violations. “This shows that the Inspectorate is functioning well,” Lee said, adding that the Inspectorate had adopted a zero tolerance policy this year.
As it relates to the Sonesta Maho incident four food safety violations had been recorded at The Point Restaurant, leading to its closure. The establishment was given the green light to reopen on February 8, after it complied with the orders given to rectify the violations. “I don’t see any indications that preferential treatment was given,” Lee said.
Lee said the Ministry’s goal is to increase compliance and not to interrupt businesses. The strategy, he continued, is to ensure that businesses understand the rules and be aware of the things that they need to comply with. The Minister said he does not see anything unfair to any businesses about this approach.
Inspector General Dr. Earl Best delivered a presentation during the first round of the meeting regarding the scope of the functions of the Inspectorate which goes beyond food safety inspections. He said the Inspectorate only has the authority to close the “health operations” of an establishment such as its kitchen if violations are found. It does not have the authority to close the business itself.
Best said the Inspectorate has five food safety inspectors including one dedicated to the drinking water programme and three assigned to inspect food establishments in Simpson Bay, Maho, Cole Bay and Philipsburg, which is from downtown Philipsburg all the way to Oyster Pond. Food safety inspectors try to visit all food establishments at least once a year.
Best said an automated system had been put in place last year where inspectors can go out with tablets and record their findings on location which has improved efficiency.
He said violations are divided into critical and non-critical with the critical ones being manifestation of pests such as cockroaches, rats, flies and use of water from a non-approved source. Non-critical violations include absence of food handler’s certificates and workers not using gloves, etc. Critical violations can lead to the closure of kitchens, while a large number of non-critical violations can also lead to closure.
Lee said he has “full confidence” in the manner in which the Inspectorate is working, noting “they’re doing an admirable job.”
A number of MPs gave their views about controls with several expressing concerns about the manner in which some of the controls are conducted. Several MPs felt that the controls have to be done taking into consideration that customers can be dining in restaurants when inspectors storm in and close the facilities sending the customers away. One MP said for example that authorities do not need to go into an establishment with guns if they are looking for evidence of rodents.
MPs also enquired whether controls of large businesses are conducted in the same manner as small businesses saying that the large businesses seem to “hit headlines” when they are inspected and not the small ones. Some MPs also claimed that the inspections appeared to be preferential, while others said they are necessary and should continue. Other views were also expressed.
