LUCEA, Hanover — A lack of required amenities have made several food establishments in Hanover incapable of approval from the public health authorities. Some of these eateries are located in spaces overseen by the parish’s municipal corporation.

Acting chief public health inspector assigned to the Hanover Health Department Fritz Francis told last Thursday’s regular monthly general meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation that the space within which the establishments in question are operating is not conducive to their line of business.

“Most of the amenities are not in place. It does not satisfy our public health requirements. These entities have implications both for the health department [and] for the municipal corporation,” warned Francis.“Our food safety record is trending down because these are uncertifiable entities.”

In response to questions from mayor of Lucea, Councillor Sheridan Samuels, Francis said several of these food establishments are located within the town and inside the transportation centre which is operated by the municipal corporation. He added that a report was prepared on the matter late last year. However, he was unable to say definitively if a copy had been forwarded to the corporation.

As a result, Francis has requested a meeting with the local authority to explore solutions and identify the way forward.

Also on a food safety-related issue, Deputy Mayor of Lucea Andria Dehaney Grant questioned how often checks are made on the expiration date of items that supermarkets have on sale.

“We do monthly inspections of all food establishments in the parish. So on a monthly basis we can give you an update on all supermarkets, and I must say for the ones in Lucea, currently, they are satisfactory,” Francis assured.