Dawes wants authorities to seize, dispose of chicken from washed-up container in St Catherine
Published:Saturday | April 5, 2025 | 2:46 PM
Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr Alfred Dawes, is urging the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Ministry of Commerce, and the police to take swift action to seize and safely dispose of chicken products from the wrecked shipping container that washed ashore in Hellshire, St Catherine.
Dawes says action is urgently needed to prevent further risks to public health.
Videos circulating online show several individuals helping themselves to chicken from the container, which washed up on the beach on Thursday.
Dawes says he is deeply concerned.
“While it may be tempting as an opportunity to get free food, I strongly urge Jamaicans to exercise extreme caution and refrain from consuming or distributing any of the chicken recovered from this container.”
Dawes says there are several critical health concerns surrounding the chicken and urged the public not to consume or sell the meat.
“Safely dispose of it, as eating or distributing it could lead to widespread illness.”
He is also encouraging persons to be vigilant when making purchases and to ask questions.
“Ensure the source of the meat is reputable, and if in doubt, do not consume it.”
The agriculture ministry, in a statement earlier today, said it has confirmed that the container fell from a vessel while in transit to the Cayman Islands.
It noted too that there have been widespread reports of looting by members of the public.
Individuals who may have taken any of the products are strongly advised not to consume or feed it to animals, and should immediately contact their local public health department for guidance on safe disposal.
The public is also urged to report any instances of sale or distribution of these products to the relevant authorities.
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