First published in The Tribune on Friday, May 9, 2008 under the byline, Young Man's View.
LOCALLY, there are numerous restaurants that should be swiftly closed down for offering a dirty dining experience with health hazards that flagrantly violate health codes.
Although throngs of Bahamians flock to fast food outlets daily, many are credulous about the critical violations that may be blatant in some cases or surreptitiously take place in kitchens and backrooms.
Bahamians appear to readily accept mediocrity and, for the most part, are not demanding service excellence.
Over the past few months, I’ve been able to observe the property status and food quality of several of Nassau’s bistros, which represent the United Nations for delicacies with availabilities ranging from Bahamian cuisine to American, Indian, Haitian, Greek, Asian, Australian, Italian, French and Latin eateries. While many restaurants offer a clean and healthy eating environment, there are others where unpleasant odours greet customers upon entry, bare signs of mice droppings and are accused of substandard food temperatures, roaches and rodents, unsanitary oil build-up and unhygienic employees who sometimes prepare and serve food with dirty, bare hands.
At those eateries where employees egregiously violate critical codes, it would be discovered that these barehanded workers do not practice proper hand washing procedures and may cause food to have bacterial contamination, which could leave customers suffering from terrifying, gastrointestinal illnesses.
In the US, there have been reports of food contamination as faecal matter may have been transferred from the hands of filthy fast food employees.
Moreover, the presence of repugnant, brimming dumpsters, that is a breeding ground for flies, rodents and stray dogs, is an unsightly turn-off that can be plainly seen to the front or the side of several eateries. Unkempt drive-throughs and grimy windows is everyday scene at certain fast food outlets!
Of late, are health inspectors in hibernation?
Undoubtedly, there are many Bahamians who are victims of food poisoning each year who, as usual, fail to report these incidents.
Personally, like many other Bahamians, I’ve been served sandwiches with undercooked beef or fries (that I’ve returned) or served by callous fast food employees who dole out food that has been sitting for a long time (cold).
Just last year, health inspectors were forced to close down City Markets’, Oakes Field deli section for suspected health code violations.
This approach should be taken with various other restaurants or supermarket delicatessens.
Furthermore, in these economically bleak times, health and price control inspectors must cite food store operators who attempt to peddle expired or damaged goods to unassuming customers, that use unclean food equipment such as squalid meat slicers/grinders or attempt to unscrupulously sell stale meat at discounted rates.
I have also noticed the rotting fruits and vegetables, with deep fingernail imprints and flies swarming about them, which are dishonestly kept on shelves at lower prices.
It is high-time that storeowners and restaurateurs be held accountable or face being refused business licenses and seeing their inspection results posted on the internet.
The Department of Environmental Health needs to wake up and either hire a private sanitation firm or themselves carryout frequent, unannounced food safety inspections.
POOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The Bahamas has a chaotic, unreliable public transportation system.
The archaic bus system initiated nearly three decades ago has seen little modernisation and these days is reminiscent of the wild, wild west as discourteous bus drivers dart about town, stopping anywhere they prefer and many times leaving trailing motorists to inhale a noxious haze of smoke, when their improperly maintained vehicles speed off.
These buses, which may feature worn-out seats, graffiti plastered about the interior and loud music, will not be universally utilized in their current state.
In any country serious about its road traffic laws, these vehicles would have been banned from the streets.
During these economically challenging times where gas prices are soaring, many Bahamians prefer to bear these costs, sit in gridlocked traffic and drive their own vehicles rather than risk their safety or depend on undependable jitneys.
It is unfortunate that after so many years there remains no designated bus station/depot where bus tickets can be bought, passengers can be taken on and offloaded and riders are provided with a level of security.
There is also a need for expansion of bus routes to newly populated areas such as Cowpen Road and Seabreeze which are presently not included on current route schedules.
When I travelled to Europe last summer, I noticed that the public transportation system in place was organised, well-timed and reliable. By contrast, the European public transportation system is far superior to our disorderly public transit set-up. With an ever-increasing population, public transportation has to be prioritized and endorsed, and a progressive town planning process must be undertaken.
Additionally, on a main thoroughfare with limited parking like Bay Street, the government should set about putting in place, or licensing a private entity, to operate a tram, with several stops that carries workers and tourists to offices and tourist sites.
While addressing the public transportation system, the government must proactively follow Bermuda’s example and restrict car imports/purchases per household to help alleviate traffic congestion. Bahamians must begin car-pooling, especially since one household could have five occupants with five vehicles and several of them travelling in the same direction everyday.
In the last few years, irresponsible jitney drivers have been responsible for several accidents, as even school children have been hurt and one, Faith Mackey, was tragically killed.
Just last week, two buses bearing the Public Transit Authority Buses (PTAB) decal nearly ran me off the road in their overzealous pursuit of a dollar.
A report will be filed with the Road Traffic Department.
There is a need for stronger police presence during peak traffic hours. In Miami, certain roads are shut down and rerouted to one way streets during rush hour in an attempt to manage traffic.
This approach should be adopted!
POORER QUALITY MAILBOAT SERVICE
For years, the mail boat has been the main connection to the outside world for inhabitants of major Family Islands.
Having grown up on a Family Island, I know how vital the mail boat service is to an island’s sustenance as they transport freight, mail and passengers.
These days, certain irresponsible mailboat operators are callously losing items entrusted to their care and, I’m told, in certain instances are uncivil to some Family Island residents who may object to their poor service but must continue to desperately rely on these boats for their survival.
As suggested by my barber, who hails from Mayaguana and has faced difficulties with mailboat service, the government must closely monitor operators who offer inefficient, fly-by-night service and who, on a whim, deceitfully change the rate of freight.
The Ministry of Lands and Consumer Affairs should also scrutinize operators who sporadically change their travel schedules, without announcement, to facilitate self-centered, money-making pursuits (excursions, etc) to the detriment of Family Islanders or persons shipping goods to Family Islands. Mail boat operators must be held to a high level of accountability.
THE BLOOMING GIMME GIMME CULTURE!
This week, a prominent attorney made mention of a developing “something for nothing” culture where Bahamian shoppers/patrons are constantly being harassed for monies by able-bodied beggars, with various pretexts, at bank entrances, pharmacies, in food stores, in the streets, at gas stations, in parking lots and at several other places around town.
He said:
“We are developing into one big begging society. It starts with the politicians and elections.
“You will note the amount of ‘Sponsor Me’ papers which are being handed out. This is, of course, something for nothing.
“This attitude of entitlement also kills initiatives.
“I also believe that many young children follow this road in a form of prostitution.
“Note the older men who pick up the school girls. I do not support ‘sponsorship’ because I believe deeply that it is a lazy and less industrious road.
“If someone wants to raise money for any course, even if they are selling dollar pencils or if I buy steak tickets and give them back, I believe that they have shown industry and should be encouraged.”
“Another trick that organizations and churches now do is that they tell or invite X numbers of its members that they are to be honoured at a certain event.
“However, the honoree must sell adds for the programme and fill at least one table for the event. The pressure is then placed on the unsuspecting honoree to sell tickets and ads. In return the honoree gets a plaque. Are they really honoured or used?” he said.
This legal eagle has highlighted yet another aspect of Bahamian life that many Bahamians have encountered. Honesty remains the best policy!
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