"Port Vila Municipality has given all kava bars in Port Vila a 60-day notice to improve on hygiene or be forced to close business.
The Port Vila Town Clerk, Ronald Sandy, said that through a report provided by Municipal health inspectors, hygiene within kava bars in Port Vila calls for further improvements.
The report has identified a number of issues with kava bars relating to hygiene and therefore warrants the Council to impose measures under the Municipality Act (CAP 126) including related bylaws to regulate the industry with the view to preserving the health of the consumers; the majority of whom are the local population.
“Based on these findings, I am issuing a 60-day notice to all kava bar owners, operators and managers to ensure the following is adhered to: a) a service of proper toilet is installed and available to kava bar consumers, and 2) refrain as well as eliminate the re-using of cups, bowls or similar items in kava bars,” the Town Clerk said.
It is understood all kava bars have been put on notice to abide by this council decision to construct proper toilets and to refrain from re-using the drinking cups.
Kava is considered a product of immense ceremonial value but is also widely consumed when it is sold as juice at kava bars. Kava juice is produced from the Piper Methysticum plant and is a popular traditional drink that is also consumed in Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Federated states of Micronesia.
In Port Vila, kava consumption has reached an unprecedented level which has given rise to the emergence in the thousands of kava bars along the streets of Port Vila.
“In Vanuatu, Kava is classified under the category of food, however, through the research undertaken by Municipal health officers we have stumbled upon health risks associated with commercialization of the product especially at the kava bars in capital Port Vila.
“The Council has also received numerous complaints about these hygiene issues prevalent at kava bars which warrants an immediate action from relevant authorities and the Municipality will commence working closely with all kava bar establishments to ensure that consumption of this local popular drink including the level of service and the general health of kava consumers receive maximum attention”, concluded the Town Clerk Ronald Sandy.
In the meantime all kava bar owners and operators have been asked to cooperate with the Municipal Council to address these health issues. Failing to comply will leave the council with no choice but to close down the kava bar."
http://www.dailypost.vu/news/article_fd25f426-5c3c-5c6f-8fa9-9f08560bb39f.html
The Port Vila Town Clerk, Ronald Sandy, said that through a report provided by Municipal health inspectors, hygiene within kava bars in Port Vila calls for further improvements.
The report has identified a number of issues with kava bars relating to hygiene and therefore warrants the Council to impose measures under the Municipality Act (CAP 126) including related bylaws to regulate the industry with the view to preserving the health of the consumers; the majority of whom are the local population.
“Based on these findings, I am issuing a 60-day notice to all kava bar owners, operators and managers to ensure the following is adhered to: a) a service of proper toilet is installed and available to kava bar consumers, and 2) refrain as well as eliminate the re-using of cups, bowls or similar items in kava bars,” the Town Clerk said.
It is understood all kava bars have been put on notice to abide by this council decision to construct proper toilets and to refrain from re-using the drinking cups.
Kava is considered a product of immense ceremonial value but is also widely consumed when it is sold as juice at kava bars. Kava juice is produced from the Piper Methysticum plant and is a popular traditional drink that is also consumed in Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Federated states of Micronesia.
In Port Vila, kava consumption has reached an unprecedented level which has given rise to the emergence in the thousands of kava bars along the streets of Port Vila.
“In Vanuatu, Kava is classified under the category of food, however, through the research undertaken by Municipal health officers we have stumbled upon health risks associated with commercialization of the product especially at the kava bars in capital Port Vila.
“The Council has also received numerous complaints about these hygiene issues prevalent at kava bars which warrants an immediate action from relevant authorities and the Municipality will commence working closely with all kava bar establishments to ensure that consumption of this local popular drink including the level of service and the general health of kava consumers receive maximum attention”, concluded the Town Clerk Ronald Sandy.
In the meantime all kava bar owners and operators have been asked to cooperate with the Municipal Council to address these health issues. Failing to comply will leave the council with no choice but to close down the kava bar."
http://www.dailypost.vu/news/article_fd25f426-5c3c-5c6f-8fa9-9f08560bb39f.html
