No Alice when Crab Circle returns, says Kingston mayor
Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams says controversial vendor Alice Waugh will not be returning to Crab Circle when the eatery re-opens at Heroes Circle next Thursday.
The popular food stop is being re-opened to the public after being shuttered for weeks following a viral video showing Waugh relieving herself at her stall.
Waugh, in a news report published on Thursday, said she has been rendered jobless because of the incident and indicated that she would be returning as a vendor at the facility when it is re-opened, saying she intends to rebuild trust with her clients.
But, in a tweet on Thursday, Williams said the municipality had already decided that Waugh would not be returning as a vendor when Crab Circle makes its return. He said the stall she previously occupied will be reassigned to another vendor.
“Not sure why this is being raised days ahead of the reopening when the position of the Municipality has already been stated,” the mayor tweeted in response to the article. “Alice Waugh will NOT be returning to Crab Circle as a vendor come next week.”
He added: “We wish Ms Waugh the best in her other endeavours but she will not be permitted to return to Crab Circle as a vendor, preparing food for the public given several public health concerns.”
Waugh reportedly did not participate in the mandatory training and certification programme organised by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, in partnership with HEART/ NSTA Trust. She reportedly said in the media interview that she was sick during the period the sessions were being carried out.
“The vendors who are returning have met with the Council, completed certification by HEART and have done the necessary food handlers training. She has not,” Williams tweeted.
The Crab Circle vendors last month participated in a five-day training programme in proper food-handling and preparation.
During one of the monthly meetings of the KSAMC at the time, Mayor Williams said the training would “cover a lot in terms of occupational health standards and general professionalism in administering and operating within food facilities, and it ranges from dress, safety gears, and preparation of food [to] sanitisation in food facilities.”
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Having gone through the five-day programme, the vendors at the food spot are now all certified and will be receiving their food handlers permit before next Thursday’s re-opening.