Trinidad Guardian
Friday 2nd March, 2007
Papa John’s closes due to rat infestation
By Shaliza Hassanali
AFTER operating for a year, the Port-of-Spain outlet of Papa John’s pizza on Independence Square closed permanently yesterday, because of a rat infestation problem.
Managing director of Papa John’s Dr Harry Singh promised, however, that the company would reopen at another Port-of-Spain location.
Singh said the company’s head office in United States would be informed of the decision.
In the meantime, the company’s 18 staff members, Singh said, would be absorbed at the other two branches.
The businessman described the closure of the Independence Square branch as sad, unfortunate and regrettable, since they had invested heavily to spruce up the building.
Tuesday was the last day Papa John served its customers.
We would never compromise the health of our workers and customers. That’s why we have decided to shut down the business,” Singh said, in a face-to-face interview yesterday.
There’s a rat infestation in this entire block, which needs to be controlled,” Singh disclosed.
Between Chacon and Abercromby Streets there is one restaurant and a pastry shop.
Contacted yesterday, deputy Port-of-Spain Mayor Rishi Lackhan admitted that rats in the city sometimes posed a problem to public health inspectors.
Every month health inspectors do checks and place bait to get rid of them.”
Public health inspector Sayad Ali said he was unaware of the rat infestation, but promised to investigate the matter.
Singh said he had learnt a valuable lesson from this experience, saying that the next Port-of-Spain property he rented must be rat-free.
We would have to scrutinise the property before signing the lease, because we don’t want this to happen to us again. It’s not good for our business.”
Singh said when they moved into the building last year, he realised “there was a problem with rats outside, which had become a matter of concern and worry.”
In a bid to control the rodents, the company called in the Public Health Department, who advised them how to dispose of their garbage.
We did everything that we were told...But the rats kept multiplying. We then retained the services of Rentokil to deal with the pests, but it went beyond our control,” Singh said.
Apparently, the food we were dealing with served as a breeding ground for the rodents.”
Closure of the fast food outlet came after eight employees of Papa John’s staged a protest outside their workplace, complaining about the rat infestation, a foul smell emanating from the building and being fired.
Armed with placards, the workers said they were sent home after they spoke of their health concerns to management.
Worker Lawson Antoine said two workers had fallen sick yesterday, because of the stench of several dead rats behind the building.
Operations manager Declan Littrean said: “We told them to go home while we treated the place, but they interpreted it as a dismissal.”