THE Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) passed a resolution to regulate the growing number of funeral homes operating illegally in residential areas at its last council meeting held two Tuesdays ago.

The resolution, which was moved by Robert Williams – the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the Norbrook division – calls for the Ministry of Health, the KSAC and all Parish Councils to be the regulatory body for the funeral homes.

John Myers, JLP councillor for the Lawrence Tavern division, seconded the resolution which also wants the government to put a mechanism in place for the training, certification and licensing of morticians and for a fee to be charged for the services of regulating the funeral homes.

The resolution pointed out that there were no facilities in Jamaica for the training of morticians and that uncertified and unlicensed persons classified as “suitcase undertakers” have been operating some funeral homes.

Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, said that every “well-thinking” Jamaican should support the resolution.

In June, McKenzie told the council that some 35 funeral homes operating illegally in residentiol areas in the corporate area posed a health risk to citizens.

He said that many of the funeral homes in the residential areas “were looking after the dead and disposing of the waste as if it was domestic”. He said that some of the illegal undertakers were using syringes discarded from hospitals.

“Under public health regulations this is illegal, and exposes the wider population to risk,” McKenzie said.

In May, the Funeral Directors’ Association (FDA) also called for funeral homes to meet legally-binding public health criteria. The FDA said that there were guidelines for opening a funeral parlour but that they were not being enforced.

Meanwhile, the People’s National Party (PNP) councillors, although being in favour of the regulation of the funeral homes, abstained from voting for the resolution on the grounds that it needed to be improved upon as it was not sufficiently factual.

Paul Stewart (Hagley Park division) suggested that the resolution, which was first placed on the order paper two years ago, should be removed for a second time to allow for discussions in a sub-committee comprising members from both sides.

Williams, however, objected to the resolution being removed from the order paper for more discussions, saying a similar move was made two years ago, but the PNP councillors failed to participate.