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We spoke to Councillor Phillip Willoughby about this latest complication:..

Jules Vasquez
"How many vendors presently have a food handler's permit?"

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor
"To this date I am not certain, I don't think majority of them have."

Jules Vasquez
"So it might be zero?"

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor
"There is a possibility. But like I said the letter was forwarded to all the vendors the day after we received it at the council and I am here asking now to say that this is not a malicious act on behalf of the council or the Ministry of Health. We are only seeking compliance that they comply with the policies set out."

Consuelo Maldonado, Vendor
"That just happen yesterday, this is 24 hours ago. We can't get anything in 24 hours. That's ridiculous."

Jules Vasquez
"But if you don't have it by August 5th it says you can't come into the market."

Consuelo Maldonado, Vendor
"Well everybody refuse to do that. They will have to shut down the market."

Jules Vasquez
"How many people you know along here have a food handler certificate?"

Consuelo Maldonado, Vendor
"Nobody. If I don't have it then nobody have it."

Edith Brakeman, Vendor
"I think that is good that everybody have their food handler because from ever since they have always wanted us to have it."

Jules Vasquez
"But you think you all need it?"

Edith Brakeman, Vendor
"Well they say that we have to have it so we have to get it."

Jules Vasquez
"Have you gotten yours yet because tomorrow is the deadline."

Edith Brakeman, Vendor
"They just hand us these papers yesterday."

Jules Vasquez
"The papers that Mr. Willoughby have says August 5th."

Edith Brakeman, Vendor
"Well today is the 4th, I don't think that it's August 5th they mean."

Jules Vasquez
"Tomorrow August 5th is the deadline and the rule is that when the grace period is finished all persons failing to comply should be removed from the market at the end of the grace period. Tomorrow is August 5th, will the none-certificate having persons be removed?"

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor
"Well I believe if they haven't done so up to tomorrow at the close of business...for the Ministry of Health, they will have a very busy day over there tomorrow to ensure that they do have the food handler's permit."

Jules Vasquez
"But let's be realistic. This is a market. There is a dusty street. Very few people are buying things here to eat. Sometimes stuff is stored a foot from the ground. You don't need a food handler's certificate. A food handler's certificate says that you have to have hair net and so. This isn't tacos you are buying. You are buying raw materials. Why would you harass these people into getting a food certificate for stuff that people know that you have to go home and wash before you eat?"

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor
"In the Ministry of Health's best - I believe - conventional wisdom, this is the appropriate way for them to conduct their business within the law."

Jules Vasquez
"But the law is not inflexible, it's not blind. The law has to respect the fact that it is a market - there are items of produce in the open air. If you buy a grapefruit - you are not going to eat through the skin - you peel off the skin, so why do I need to have a hair net to serve a grapefruit?"

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor
"Jules again, I am no scientist to determine whether or not..... "

Jules Vasquez
"But you should be a man of the people."

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor
"Yes I am not here to determine whether or not how osmosis occurs or permeable membrane, and what passes where and what gets where. We are simply saying that the Ministry of Health is requiring that you have a permit to do business. It's all simple and too easy - just comply."

Jules Vasquez
"But sir this is the second time you have taken the side of the authority against the side of the people. When BEL in its private ownership incarnation wanted everyone under the 120 kV line to move - you jump right in the bed with BEL - 'move.' But now the public health authority is coming, after decades of un-regulation, is coming here and telling people who are selling things in a skin saying that they need to have a food handler's certificate, I am saying that you as the public elected authority have to come out for the people and say 'let's make sense out of nonsense.'"

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor
"It's not only fruits and vegetables that are sold here. There are meats and other produce."

Jules Vasquez
"Orson, you have a food handler's certificate. Why did you get one?"

Orson Giron, butcher
"Because I am a meat vendor, I suppose to have that to sell meat or else they will not allow me in here."

Jules Vasquez
"Was it something difficult or costly to get?"

Orson Giron, butcher
"Not really, you just go in and answer some easy questions and you get it quick."

Jules Vasquez
"You think the fruit vendors who sell here and the produce vendors should be required to get one as well?"

Orson Giron, butcher
"I would say mostly for the meat vendors or for people who sell meats. Vegetables are not really something that we need that for."

Phillip Willoughby, Councillor
"You are making it into a category 4-5 hurricane, Jules. This is just a simple thing of going over to the health department to request a permit to do business in a hygienic way. So take out all the complexities and perplexities that you are bringing about and just let's move on with serving the public in a health safe fashion and environment."

Usually a food handler's certificate takes a few days to get - and applicants have to attend an orientation seminar - which means - long story short - those who apply tomorrow won't get it tomorrow. We'll see how that plays out.