LETTER: Why doesn’t the Health Department inspect restaurants?

Dear Editor,

I had an experience over the weekend at a restaurant in English Harbour which I will share but which exposes a serious health risk in the restaurant business that is not being addressed. The Health Department only seems to concentrate on the Chinese restaurants from time to time but rarely if ever on any others. But with Antiguans no longer cooking and eating out more and more, the Public Health Department must step up with inspections with surprise visits to restaurants islandwide.

Now here is my experience.

I want to share something I experienced at Club Sushi because it honestly shocked me, and I think the community deserves to know what’s going on.

I was there recently, trying to find the bathroom, and I took a wrong turn. That wrong turn led me to the back of the building, and what I saw really concerned me. Pots, actual cooking pots,were being washed outside in what looked like dirty water. And not just anywhere… they were being washed right next to the garbage. Can you imagine that? The same pots food is being served from, sitting out there in that mess.

The whole back area looked neglected and unsanitary. On top of that, I saw dirty water dripping down from Club Sushi into the restaurant below. The smell coming from that section was unbelievably bad, strong enough to make you step back. It was clear that something is very wrong with the drainage or waste management on the property.

I’m not writing this to cause trouble or hurt anyone’s business. With boat season about to start, I know how many people in our community rely on this time of year. But visitors and locals alike shouldn’t be at risk of getting sick because of conditions like these. This is a real public health concern.

The National Parks Authority and the Health Authority need to take a serious look at what’s happening there. The back of that place needs to be inspected properly, and whatever is going on with that drainage and washing area must be addressed urgently.

I’m simply asking for accountability and basic food safety. Our community depends on it.

True Davis, Piccadilly

A concerned citizen