PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Vendors at Boston Jerk Centre have welcomed plans to form a committee, including representatives from their group, to oversee operations at the popular eatery.

That was one of the recommendations made Friday after vendors temporarily blocked the roads to protest the health department’s protracted closure of the facility.

Vendors had anticipated that they would have been allowed back on the job on Thursday, but the jerk centre remained closed for a seventh week.

They held aloft placards Friday morning and used stones and other debris to make the roads impassable. In the vendors’ view, they have complied with the requirements laid out by the health department to facilitate reopening of the jerk centre.

Among the protestors was JJ, who is popularly called Seafood King.

“I do the [required] work and all now no [health] inspector nuh pass the work, and they talking about school and all these things… Who can teach me jerking?” he raged.

He was referring to health department-recommended training for vendors. However, it has not been listed as a prerequisite for the facility to reopen.

Vendor William Gallimore was just as annoyed as JJ.

“I have done all that was required: fix the slaughterhouse, the drain pipes painted, and the various repairs requested [to be done out were carried out] and still not allowed to open!” he thundered.

Aston Williams complained that his slaughterhouse had passed inspection so he was confused about why the jerk centre remains closed.

“I have all my documents of slaughtering, weight, etc, signed by the public health inspector the day before the closure, and we still closed. We need to come upfront and be professional in what we are doing. The solid waste persons don’t collect the garbage on time, although I have a contract with them. I have made a skip to store my garbage and all this now?” Williams bemoaned.

Councillor Athlee Cleary (Jamaica Labour Party, Fairy Hill Division) was among those who tried to have order restored during the protest. He suggested that vendors who had fully complied with the health officials’ requirements should be allowed to resume operations.

“I would highly recommend that we do not keep them any longer out of operation as long as they meet the standard, [because] a holiday is coming soon. I hope that they will be open soon as it has been a long time — seven weeks — since they have been closed.

“Those who are ready, give them the go-ahead; and those with breaches need to correct it then get the go-ahead. Discretion is needed, and I am willing to sit with everybody. I want the people to understand: When the thing is right, I will support, and when the thing is wrong I will not support. So, we’ll find a way to get it done,” he said.

Cleary has been recommended to spearhead the proposed committee which, in addition to vendors, will be made up of other representatives from the municipal corporation and State agencies.

The parish’s Medical Officer for Health Dr Sharon Lewis said there are still a number of issues left to be rectified.

“Inspection on October 3, 2024 revealed that many of the breaches were still unremedied. Roughly 47 to 70 per cent of the breaches persisted at the jerk stalls; hence they remained closed,” she told Thursday’s monthly meeting of Portland Municipal Corporation.

She said various steps had been taken to help vendors improve their work environment, including meetings with other government agencies.

In supporting her point, Chief Environmental Officer Lorenzo Hume said meetings were held with representatives from Social Development Corporation, Portland Development Corporation, HEART/NSTA Trust, and others to help the vendors establish a benevolent society.

For example, HEART/NSTA Trust will work with public health inspectors to teach vendors how to write business plans; provide tips on entrepreneurship, facility operation, customer service, occupational health and safety, portion control, specialised food control, as well as working effectively as cooks.

Hume pointed out that there will be a series of other training sessions.

“We will meet with them on October 28, this year, to advise them of how the training will take place — hosted at the Boston Jerk Centre — for theoretical and practical use, likewise for the control environment. We will be having three to four training sessions from November 4 through to the 23rd at Port Antonio High School’s food laboratory,” he said.

“This will not be a requirement for the reopening of the facility. As soon as they have satisfied the requirement for the environmental and public health issues along with the team, and the medical officer for health is satisfied, it will be opened. We have developed an agreement we will sign with them, which is in progress. Once they meet those requirements and sign that agreement, we will carry through,” Hume assured.

Boston Jerk Centre

LEWIS… there are still a number of issues left to be rectified

Chief Public Health Inspector Lorenzo Hume says there will be a series of other training sessions for vendors.

Vendor Aston Williams complains that his slaughterhouse has passed inspection so he is confused about why the jerk centre remains closed. (Photos: Everard Owen)