The laws of Belize say that the Public health department is authorized to inspect any public business establishment, especially in the food and accommodation sector. And when it finds violations, the Department can close down businesses until operators clean up their act, all in the interest of public health safety. And that is just what almost happened to the Princess Hotel this week. That's right, this morning a team of Public Health Inspectors scoured the Princess for any form of public health violations and what they found might surprise you. Keith Swift reports.
Keith Swift Reporting,
With 190 hotel rooms, a restaurant, a bar, and two cinemas - the Princess Hotel is Belize's largest hotel and this morning health inspectors say they found the dirty little secret Belize's biggest hotel has been hiding. John Bernard is a senior public health inspector. Yesterday afternoon he led a team of eight which attempted to inspect the hotel but they were denied entry. Finally, this morning they were granted access. He told us what they found.
John Bernard, Sr. Public Health Inspector
"We found some infractions, public health infractions, minor public
health infractions. For example there was evidence of rodent infestation, roaches. They need to do some house cleaning, general cleaning, and some repairs to the freezer, they cannot close properly and the rubber along some of them needs changing and that sort of thing."
Keith Swift,
You mention that these are minor infractions, so these aren't anything that will warrant the closure of the kitchen.
John Bernard,
"At this point in time no, but what happens is that it is minor things that cause problems if you look at how accidents and stuff like that are caused and we don't want things to get out of hand. If we left the situation, probably it could get worse and as you know, part of public health is prevention. We try to prevent disease, prevent things from happening."
Keith Swift,
Given the situation you found in the Princess, is there any cause for alarm, any cause for concern by anybody who has eaten or who eats the Princess?
John Bernard,
"I don't believe so. Like I said we are there and we want to nip this situation in the bud. We don't want things to escalate and get out of hand and later on we have this problem. If we felt that there was a big significant threat to health and safety, then of course we would have had then to close it down. As it is, we will be monitoring daily the situation and make sure that they comply with the regulations."
Keith Swift,
You said you saw the evidence of rodent droppings, was this obvious, was this in plain view?
John Bernard,
"No it wasn't in plain view. It is something that you look for as a trained public health inspector and yes there was evidence. It wasn't like you walk in there and it's in the middle of the floor but it was on the edges and it is there."
And while Bernard says there was evidence of rodent infestation - this evening the Princess' general manager Victor Gomez took a break from his meeting with public health officials and told is there no problem.
Keith Swift,
What is the Princess' response to what the inspectors found?
Victor Gomez, General Manager - Princess Hotel
"Right now we are in the middle of a meeting. We are showing the plans that we have to renovate the kitchen of the hotel and they are giving us some
guidance in order to approve the plan, the renovation, because we cannot go ahead with the renovation until the Public Health Department is going to give us approval to do so."
Keith Swift,
They said your kitchen was dirty, was messy. They said there were a lot of problems in the kitchen especially.
Victor Gomez,
"I don't have that information. We are right now discussing about some other matters so we are discussing the renovation of the kitchen."
Keith Swift,
So there is nothing wrong with your kitchen, nothing wrong with anything at the Princess?
Victor Gomez,
"Of course we have to renovate the kitchen because most of the equipment has to be changed."
Keith Swift,
Sir they said they found rodent droppings, that your kitchen was dirty. That is what they said.
Victor Gomez,
"Who said that?"
Keith Swift,
The Public Health Department said that your kitchen had problems.
Victor Gomez,
"I don't think so. If you show me a report, I am going to believe you but they haven't said that."
Again tonight the Princess Hotel along with the restaurant and Calypso Bar are still open. They will remain so but the Public Health Department will making regular checks. One point to clear up is that the Public Health Department doesn't believe the Princess management intentionally denied them access. They say the new managers simply weren't familiar with the law. They note that all hotels and business establishment should expect similar visits.
