PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
PILTIC.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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2. The replies from the Wardens indicate that the provisions of the existing law in this respect are not altogether in abeyance, and they supply another argument in support of the increased vigilance on the part of the Wardeus that I advised should be exercised.
3. In view of the Wardens' observations on this subject I further recommend now that each Warden should be directed to take up a certain defined area in his district in which he should exert his powers to ensure that suitable sanitary accom- modation is provided and maintained in connexion with every house within the ares; on completion of the work in that area he should proceed on similar lines with another defined area until his entire district is brought into conformity with the law. Probably a vigorous treatment of the first area dealt with would bring home to other residents that their turn might come next, and doubtless the desired action would be taken spontaneously in many cases. In this way every house in the Colony might be brought under control within a measurable time, and I have no doubt that the eradication of ankylostomiasis would be thereby very materially advanced.
4. It is instructive to note, in view of the Wardens' reports, that in Colonel Dodd's last return (vide Council Paper 2 of 1915) nearly fifty per cent. of the total number of cases investigated by him in last December were provided with "no latrine whatever."
5. It seems right that a copy of your minute of the 22nd January, 1915, and of this reply thereto should also be transmitted to the Secretary of State.
H. L. CLARE,
26th January, 1915.
Enclosure 4 in No. 112.
Surgeon-General.
BEFORE the Executive Council, 4th February, 1015. Secretary of State's Miscellaneous despatch, 20th November.
Surgeon-General, 26th January.
Reports of Wardens (2874/14).
Minute of
Order. Copies of the Surgeon-General's minute (paragraphs 2 and 3) to be forwarded to the Wardens, asking them to suggest the areas they would select for operation and to furnish details of procedure.
Enclosure 5 in No. 112.
W. M. GORDON,
Clerk of the Council.
SUMMARY OF REPORTS Of Wardens.
1. Montserrat.-Village householders have been compelled to provide proper privy accommodation and to keep such sanitary. East Indians in villages will not use privies, preferring to go into the bush and cocoa fields and even along public
roads.
2. Toco-Action taken in recent years to ensure proper privy accommodation. Orders have been complied with and nuisance now much diminished. In 1912 and 1913 over 500 new latrines provided in villages.
3. Couva and Chaguanas.-Qualified Assistant Sanitary Inspector appointed, Village of who acts and serves notices whenever a nuisance found to exist. Savonetta considered to be part of Esperanza estate, and law not strictly enforced. Since outbreak of enteric last year whole time of Assistant Inspector occupied in Couva and Chaguanas neglected.
4. Arima. Orders are served when nuisances are found, and prosecutions follow where orders are not complied with. About half the houses in villages are provided with adequate privy accommodation.
5. Manzanilla. All villages have proper privy accommodation, and most of the houses on the roadsides, and action is being continued in this direction. Estates Estates with free labour are with indentured labour under Immigration Office.
attended to. With present staff attention cannot be paid to houses in interior and in remote districts.
6. Oropouche and La Brea-Sanitary orders enforced in villages. villages nothing is done.
Beyond
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7. Savana Grande and Moruga. Has been issuing orders to householders in Prince's Town to have pits dug and in some cases sanitary pails provided. A good deal of trouble in getting orders obeyed.
In Moruga, Poole, and outlying villages no special action taken; people resort to bush or cocoa felds, Suggests small allowance to Ward Officers to carry out this work.
8. Naparima-Action taken in past to ensure proper privy accommodation, viz.: (a) monthly inspection of privias; (b) orders issued for new privies with pits when required; (e) orders issued for filling up old pits.
9. St. Ann'a and Diego Martin. For last twenty years had insisted on all villages being provided with proper privy accommodation and on privies being regularly inspected and disinfected. Any householder failing to comply with order prosecuted.
10. Mayaro. No special measures beyond occasional service of notices for erection of new or reconstruction of defective privies. In many cases erection of privies would, owing to special conditions, be a menace. Village sites very narrow and water supply generally drawn from surface, which is against provision of pits. Difficult to see what improvement can be made unless "pail system" established.
11. Cedros. Is endeavouring to get privies erected to all houses in villages, but points out that Section 17 of Ordinance 187, Part II., only allows seven days for erection of privy, and it is impossible to obtain materials for erection within this period. Houses very often made of tapia and only worth $10, and Warden To enforce privies on would not be able to recover the amount spent in such cases. every house would require five Sanitary Inspectors. Is not aware that ankylosto- miasis exists in Cedros.
12. Blanchisseuse. Only one village in Blanchisseuse, in which all houses now have privies. It has not been usual to insist on houses outside villages having privies. Orders to this effect could be issued.
Tacarigua and Blanchisseuse.-4,000 privies in good order and 600 premises without privy accommodation. Owing to expense of putting up privies lower classes should be allowed time to erect privies.
Enclosure 6 in No. 112. MINUTE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
I AM inclined to think that this had better await the passing of the new Public Health Ordinance, when it will be brought fresh to the notice of the public all over the Colony.
To suddenly enforce an old law which has been disregarded for years when there is a new one before the Legislature is questionable policy. I shall be glad of the opinion of the Attorney-General.
28th October, 1914.
Enclosure 7 in No. 112.
MINUTE FROM THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
G. R. LE H.
If Section 54 of THE poverty of the people is the great obstacle in this case. the Public Health Bill becomes law the occupation of a dwelling house without a privy will subject the occupier to a penalty, and perhaps it would be well not to resurrect old penalties, but to wait, as suggested by His Excellency's minute of the 28th October, 1914, until the Bill becomes law. Even when that event takes place considerable discretion will have to be exercised in bringing the law into operation. From the replies recaived it seems to me that the Wardens have done all they could to deal with a very difficult situation.
H. C. GOLLAN.
30th March, 1915.