Mayor of Port-of-Spain Murchison Brown
during yesterday’s press conference at
his office at City Hall. Photo: Keith Matthews

Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown said yesterday portable toilets or “wee-wee trucks” used by all-inclusive carnival bands have not been banned. He called a news conference at his office yesterday to respond to a story published in a daily newspaper. Brown said no decision has been made on the issue as the Port-of-Spain City Corporation was still in discussion with the National Carnival Commission and the National Carnival Bands Association on the issue.

He added that the concerns of the health officials were brought before the NCC and NCBA sometime before August this year. “The Public Health Act was sent to the NCBA and there is going to be further dialogue with them,” he said. He said the major concern of the Chief Medical Officer and the Health Inspector for Port-of-Spain was whether these “wee-wee trucks” were serviced during the day. “These trucks hit the road from as early as 6 am on Carnival Monday and Tuesday and are on the road for more than 12 hours,” he said. Brown said the corporation suggested that portable toilets be installed in parks, squares and the carparks of banks as was done a few years ago.

“When they were put down along with wash basins, they were serviced by a contractor throughout the day and that worked out well,” he said. As to the food transported on trucks during Carnival, Brown said these food trucks do not carry food warmers which poses a health risk. “Professionals have indicated to us that if food is not properly heated four hours after it is cooked it begins to deteriorate,” he said. “This could be the reason why many people turn up at the doctor’s office sick on Ash Wednesday,” Brown added.