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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TTILL CO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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APPENDIX C.

REPORT ON SANITARY NECESSITIes, presented to the ADVISORY COMMITTEE BY THE COLONIAL SUrgeon and the Medical Officer in CHARGE.

SIR,

Grenada, International Health Commission, 2nd February, 1915. We have the honour, in pursuance of the commission of the Advisory Com- mittee of date 12th January ultimo, to lay before you for consideration our report on the sanitary situation in Grena da in relation to the control of hookworm infection.

The report has been prepared, as suggested in committee, under the headings:-

The present powers of the authorities.

2. Changes in the law suggested.

1.

3.

The nature of the by-laws defining latrine system recommended.

4.

The estimated cost to the Government of any recommendations under

the law or of any grants in aid to individuals or communities or other expenditure.

1-Present powers of the authorities.--We have dealt with these powers as con- tained in (a) Cap. 27, Medical Officers Ordinance; (b) Cap. 41, Ankylostomiasis Ordinance; (c) Cap. 45, Public Health Ordinance; (d) Cap. 47, the Streams Pollu- tion Ordinance; (e) Cap. 56, the Towns Administration Ordinance; (f) Cap. 57, the District Boards Ordinance; and discuss them in this order.

(a) Cap. 27, Medical Officers Ordinance.-In the body of the Ordinance, among the duties of the District Medical Officers are:-

1. To report on nuisances in any premises to the local health authorities; and

2. To furnish the Colonial Secretary quarterly a report on all nuisances. (b) Cap. 41, Ankylostomiasis Ordinance.--Section 3 deals with estates:—

1. The District Sanitary Inspector shall report to the local sanitary authority cases of default in the matter of privy accommodation.

2 The local sanitary authority, if satisfied,

owner

shall serve notice on

3. Said notice requires the provision and maintenance of suitable privy accommodation; and said accommodation shall consist of

Section 5 says all towns shall, and all villages may, be provided by the local sanitary authority with suitable latrine accommodation, the District Medical Officer to report to the Central Board of Health of the necessity in any town or village.

The General Board of Health may require the local sanitary authority to make suitable provisions; the expense in town to be met by the town funds, in villages from general revenue.

The Governor, the local sanitary authority defaulting, may direct construction otherwise, and, in the case of a town, charge the cost to the town fund.

Section 6 requires sufficient and suitable privy accommodation at schools. Regu- lations of 15th November, 1910, define the nature of pail closets demanded and make no provision for the manner of disposal of excreta; while by schedule payment for scavenging is arranged for.

Section 7 gives the General Board of Health power to frame, alter, and revoke regulations (a) for prescribing the forms of privy accommodation to be provided under this Ordinance.

(c) Cap. 45 (with 14 of 1912), Public Health Ordinance.-The amendment 14 of 1912 arranges the constitution of the General Board of Health.

The Governor may appoint secretary, sanitary inspectors, and other officers. Section 3.-The General Board of Health defines the sanitary districts; the Chief of Police and the members of the police force are ex-officio sanitary inspectors, their duties to be prescribed by regulations of the General Board of Health.

Section 5.-The local authorities may, with the approval of the Governor, appoint officers for the due execution of the Ordinance; their remuneration to be fixed by the General Board of Health; general revenue to be liable for sanitary expenditure by local authorities in rural districts.

The town rates are to bear the charge in towns; all expenses to be paid at such times and in such manner as the General Board of Health shall direct.

Section 12 deals with nuisances :-

1. Any premises in such a state as to be a nuisance or injurious to health

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2. Any pool, ditch, gutter, drain, privy, urinal, cesspool so foul as to be a nuisance or injurious to health.

7. Any other matter so declared by regulation... shall be deemed to be a nuisance.

Section 14. The local sanitary authority shall, if satisfied, take action in respect of the nuisance, and, by sub-section (i), in the case of nuisance arising from the want of any structural convenience or from the defective construction of any structural convenience, notice shall be served on the owner.

Section 16. An order may be made directing the execution of any works neces- sary to prevent the recurrence of the nuisance; appeal to the Supreme Court being allowed if the estimated cost of such works exceeds £5.

Section 50 provides for the General Board of Health making regulations :—

(e) For the sanitation of the ports of the Colony.

Prescribing the duties to be performed by district inspectors for sani- tary purposes, and the manner of their performance.

(g) Regulating the appointment of chairman and the procedure at meet-

ings of any local authority.

Section 55 deals with power of entry upon premises. Entry upon premises in general may be without notice. but into any dwelling house only after one hour's

Section 60 says:---

notice.

"

'Any local authority may appear before a magistrate by any one of its members or by any person authorized in writing generally, or in respect of any special proceeding so to appear by such local authority."

(d) Cap. 47, Streams Pollution Ordinance.

Section 2 fixes the fine for pollution of any stream by any noxious or polluting matter or thing.

Section 3.-The Governor may appoint conservators to act under rules to be made by the Governor in Council within districts to be defined.

Section 4. The local health authority shall be the conservators where no con- servators are appointed.

Section 6.-Washing of clothes in or on the bank of any stream may be pro- hibited by proclamation by the Governor in Council.

(e) Cap. 56, the Towns Administration Ordinance is administered, so far as applies, by the district boards constituted under

(f) Cap. 57, the District Boards' Ordinance. Section 29, sub-sections i. and iii.

The powers and duties of a "local sanitary authority'

>

under the "Public

Health Ordinance are vested in the district board; but without abridging or affect-

ing the duties and powers of the police as ex officio district sanitary inspectors; and

not giving jurisdiction over house or other property of the "Government."

Section 38 gives power to make by-laws in respect to

(vi) the establishment and regulation of public bathing and washing places:

(viii) regulating the management and removal of sewage matter; (ix) regulating the collection and removal of household refuse from premises;

(x) enforcing the drainage or cleaning of any premises or the removal or discontinuance of any nuisance;

(xi) preventing the pollution of water in any stream, creek, or water- course emptying itself or being within the boundaries of the district:

(xii) the structure and material of ... buildings.

2. Changes in the law suggested. We believe that section 1 of this report is

a fair presentation of the references in Ordinances to sanitary provisions affecting any campaign against ankylostomiasis: and that, avoiding general criticism, sug- gestions of ours should be directed merely to securing that any amendment to the law or any by-laws effected should be placed on the statute [book] in such a manner that they may be simply and effectively carried out.

We are of opinion that privy accommodation should exist on all premises used for human habitation, and suggest that

(i) there be inserted in the body of the Public Health Ordinance a clause to the effect that