Chief public health inspector for St Ann Leroy Scott is urging all butchers in the parish to be proactive in renewing or obtaining their licences.

Scott used the monthly meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation on Thursday to remind butchers that having a licence that is up-to-date will prevent them from being prosecuted if they are caught slaughtering animals.

“The police can charge them if they wish,” noted Scott

“Butchers are licensed for a period of one year and that year starts in April and ends on the 31st of March the following year. So if we start licensing from the first of April it means that there will be a period of time when the butchers won’t have a licence because the processing period takes about three months and that is what we’ve been encountering over the years,” said Scott

Individuals can apply for their butcher licence at the local municipal corporation office.

When applying, it is required that butchers present three passport-sized photos taken not more that three months before the licensing period.

“If the process starts earlier, it will enable a smooth transition from one licensing period to the next so that there can be very little if any time between the expiration of one licence and the renewal,” Scott added

— Akera Davis