Please refer to a letter which appeared in your Stabroek News issue of April 8, 2010 captioned ‘City Hall needs to issue guidelines for the registration of hospitality businesses.’ We understand where Ms Syeada Manbodh is coming from on this issue. However, she is aware that a team of public health inspectors paid a visit to her premises. The occupant (Ms Manbodh was not at home at the time of the visit) was fully apprised of the registration status of that business. Our public health inspectors explained the procedures for registration and encouraged the occupant to support her to have the business properly registered with the Mayor and City Council.
The thing is we have been receiving reports from concerned citizens about people who have changed domestic dwellings into Bed and Breakfast establishments without the requisite inspections and permissions from the competent authorities. This is unacceptable and could not be allowed by the council.
According to the law, all barber shops, hairdressing salons, common lodging houses and eating houses are required to register under the Municipal and District Councils Act 28:01. Ms Manbodh operates a business – a Bed and Breakfast – that provides services, similar to the other common lodging houses. Therefore, she needs to get registered. She is also required to obtain the appropriate land-use clearance from the Central Housing and Planning Authority and the requisite approval from the City Engineer’s department.
These regulations apply to all persons who are operating Bed and Breakfast and common lodging houses within the City of Georgetown. This is necessary to allow our health officers to visit, monitor and evaluate the status of all health facilities in that accommodation, including the positions of rooms, beds, floor, wash sinks, water closets, kitchen areas, storage areas and ventilation. Had it not been for the watchful eye and alertness of our health inspectorate many unscrupulous owners of such businesses in the city would have gotten away with negative practices.
Yours faithfully,
Royston King
Public Relations Officer
