MoBay vendor in ‘urine scandal’ makes first court appearance

WESTERN BUREAU:

Denese Adams, the vendor who was caught in a viral video urinating into a container and then pouring it into a bottle at the Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay, St James, made her first appearance in the St James Parish Court yesterday and was bound over to another court date.

Adams, who is charged with breaching the Public Health Food Handling Regulations, pleaded not guilty when she appeared before presiding Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton. She was represented by attorney-at-law Henry McCurdy.

During the proceedings, the court was told that Adams’ legal team was requesting time to review several statements in relation to the case. As a result, she was bound over by Fairclough-Hylton to return to court on October 23.

Adams was charged earlier this month with six breaches of the Public Health Food Handling Regulations, specifically Section 12 (E), Section 15 (A) and 15 (C), Section 26.1 and 26.2, and Section 27.1 (G). These regulations relate to the protection of food from contamination and holding a valid food handler’s permit.

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According to reports, a passing motorist video-recorded Adams urinating into a container, and then pouring the urine into a bottle, while sitting in a motor vehicle outside the Charles Gordon Market, where she was selling fruits and ground provisions at the time. The footage subsequently went viral on social media.

The St James Health Department later announced during a media briefing on September 3 that Adams, whose food handler’s permit had expired in 2021 and had not been renewed, would not be allowed to continue vending.

STRICTER MEASURES

Additionally, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon told a media briefing that the St James Municipal Corporation would take stricter measures to ensure that vendors operate in accordance with the Safe Food Programme, which was launched in 2023.

Under Section 35 of the Public Health Act, any violation of the regulations is punishable by a fine of up to $1 million or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, if the offender is found guilty in a court of law.

The incident involving Adams comes nearly a year after crab vendor Alice Waugh was captured on video defecating in a container at her stall at the popular Crab Circle street food hub in Kingston last October. That video triggered a lockdown of the Heroes Circle-based facility and the erection of new stalls and a restroom at the location.

Waugh, whose action was roundly condemned in several quarters, later pleaded guilty to breaching the Public Health Act and was fined $250,000 in the St Andrew Parish Court in July this year.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com

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Alleged breaches of Public Health Food Handling Regulations with which Denese Adams was charged:

• Section 12 (E) – Every person who stores, sells or offers for sale any food outside of any building ... shall keep such food covered and protected from contamination ... .

• Section 15 (A) – Every person who transports food shall ensure that the food is protected against contamination by insects, pests, animals, wind, dust or any other contaminant.

• Section 15 (C) – The food is not to be transported with any animal or poultry (alive or dead), hide, chemical or toxic substance or any substance which is liable to contaminate the food so as to render it unfit for human consumption.

• Section 26.1 – No person ... shall be employed in or assist in a food-handling establishment unless he is the holder of a food handler’s permit.

• Section 26.2 – A person who is desirous of being employed in a food-handling establishment shall, before being employed therein, apply ... for a food handler’s permit ... .

• Section 27.1 (G) – An employee shall not sleep, spit or smoke or use tobacco or any prohibited substance in any manner or do anything which is harmful or unhealthy in any place where food is prepared, stored or sold ... .