PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) on Monday complimented Ministers Claret Connor and Rita Bourne-Gumbs for their remarks on World Health Day with regards to food safety.
The foundation executes a no-nonsense policy when it comes to food handling and food safety in Carnival Village. Booth holders go through rigid food handler courses and are subject to health inspectorate inspections throughout the course of Carnival.
Connor specifically mentioned in his World Health Day message the importance of food safety in protecting our tourism product and, by extension, the Carnival product as well. “We thank the Minister for mentioning Carnival in the same breath since this issue is of utmost importance to us,” the SCDF said.
“Their messages are exactly the point we’ve made on numerous occasions in taking our decisions to expel some booth holders from the village for infringing on the rules of food safety, though we received some flak for it.
“Minister Bourne-Gumbs and the personnel of the health inspectorate should be commended for keeping the standards high regarding food safety. Some may pout, but the public can take comfort in knowing that food safety, cleanliness and hygiene is not something the SCDF has ever or will ever compromise on.”
