Vendors at the popular Boston Jerk Centre in Portland are grappling with the devastating impact of its recent closure by health officials due to poor sanitation and the sale of uninspected meat. Jason Mills, one of the vendors, expressed deep concern, stating that the closure has "crippled our livelihood" as many were still recovering from losses caused by Hurricane Beryl. With vendors relying on loans to rebuild their businesses, the unexpected shutdown has left their future uncertain and their businesses in jeopardy.

Health officials shutter Boston Jerk amid inspection issues

Vendors concerned about loss of livelihood after Beryl crunch

Jamaica Gleaner/13 Sep 2024/Gareth Davis Sr/gleaner Writer 

THE POPULAR Boston Jerk Centre in Portland has been ordered closed by health officials, who cited poor sanitation, unhealthy practices, and the selling of uninspected meat as areas of concern.

The facility was closed on September 6 after a series of inspections. The health officials said that closure was the only remaining option after the facility failed to meet the minimum public health standards over a prolonged period.

Addressing Thursday’s sitting of the Portland Municipal Corporation, Lorenzo Hume, the chief public health inspector for Portland, said that the situation at the Boston Jerk Centre worsened as they monitored its activities in relation to food safety and sanitation.

“Having exhausted all the possible options, the environmental health team carried out a series of monitoring activities over the last year and before that,” commented Humes.

“The decision was taken to advise the medical officer of health in the month of August that she should close the facilities at Boston, particularly those who operate at the jerk centre itself. As a result, the medical officer of health on September 6 closed the facility under the public health regulations,” Humes told the meeting.

It is not the first time that the Boston Jerk Centre has been closed by public health inspectors, as, in January 2016, it was shuttered as a result of several breaches, including the cooking and selling of uninspected meat, lack of running water, and poor sanitation.

Several vendors, including Jason Mills, complained to The Gleaner yesterday about what they called a hard-handed approach on the part of the public health inspectors. They claimed that the health authorities were determined to shut them down, even though they believed they had made significant strides in improving the conditions.

“This closure has basically crippled our livelihood and we are trying desperately to recover from the loss brought about by Hurricane Beryl, “Mills said.

“We lost hundreds of pounds of meat, including fish, chicken, pork, lobster, conch, and wild hog. At Boston, we provide a variety of jerked meat for our customers. This is a hard hit for us all and I honestly don’t even know how some of us will recover. Most of us took out loans to kick-start our business following the hurricane and, with this shutdown, the future looks dark,” he said.

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