Odor and garbage problems in municipal markets

Lack of hygiene in Panama’s seafood and vegetable markets is raising concerns in the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Foul odors, clogged drains, garbage in inappropriate places and the poor handling of the viscera of sea products, are some of the irregularities present in these sites says a La Prensa report.
In the Seafood Market, where there are 240 stalls selling fish and seafood, the unpleasant odor is due to the viscera and other debris made worse by clogged drains.
The Seafood market generates two tons of waste each week and manager, Victor Castro, says that although the municipality distributes 4000 plastic bags a week for tenants to dispose of viscera, they continue to put waste directly into the garbage cans. In addition, some visitors throw garbage on the ground and block the channels through which the water must flow
Odors are a concern to the authorities of the Ministry of Health (MoH), which on Friday, February 8 yesterday held a health inspection, because for four days, on the Cinta Costera right next to the market, the Carnival will be in full swing.
Cesar Ayala, head of food protection MoH, warned that the odor problem had to be remedied to prevent tourists and visitors who attend the Carnival laving with a bad image.
To control the stench, biodigestoras enzymes will be deposited in the garbage. These destroy bacteria that cause decomposition of the viscera.
He added that there is a project with the company Norberto Odebrecht to building a freezer room to minimize waste and odors.This project should be ready in April.
In the Central Agricultural Market, better known as de Abasto, 572 positions are dedicated to the sale of vegetables, legumes, corn, bananas, and other agricultural products.
There again there is also the major problem of waste disposal, because some tenants do not collect. The garbage is thrown in the back of the Market, where they heaps that cause odors.
Although prices in the Market Hall are considered by the public as cheap, its is falling because of trash malpractices says Artemio Calderon, a 15-year tenant.
Artemio says his sales are down, and he is only making $10 a day, and must pay $ 60 per month in taxes to the Municipality of Panama.
The Market manager, Jose Luis Gomez, said there is already an inspector working MoH fixed within the market and overseeing the process of handling the products. , Gomez said that trash is collected daily with garbage trucks and they are slowly trying to eliminate mini garbage heaps on the outside of the market. The market generates 35 tons of waste each day..
Plans are under way for new galleys to eliminate overcrowding in the market
An investment of $400 000 for maintaining structures has ben made to improve the conditions for the public.
Metro Health Director, Jorge Hassan, said the markets are being targeted, and operations will be revived for compliance with hygiene standards.
Between 2011 and 2012 the MoH sanctioned three municipal markets with fines of $ 5000 for breaching health standards.