As the Caribbean island of Dominica gears up to host thousands of visitors and locals for the iconic World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) and a slate of accompanying seasonal events, a top public health official is emphasizing that collective action is the key to keeping festival-goers safe from preventable foodborne illnesses.
At a pre-event press conference for the festival, Calma Louis, Senior Environmental Health Officer for the country, delivered a clear call to action to both food vendors working the event and attending consumers, framing food safety as a shared obligation rather than a one-sided regulatory check.
“Food safety is not simply a requirement of inspection; it is a shared responsibility and commitment to protecting the health of everyone who purchases and consumes food,” Louis told reporters and event organizers.
Louis opened her remarks by recognizing the consistent efforts of long-standing, established vendors who already adhere to strict public health protocols. She highlighted core practices that have proven to reduce contamination risk: maintaining sanitized food preparation spaces, following evidence-based hand hygiene rules, keeping raw and prepared food properly shielded from contaminants, and storing and holding food at regulated safe temperatures. When paired with mandatory, up-to-date certification for all food handlers, these routine practices create a safe foundation for large-scale gatherings where hundreds of people can eat and celebrate without unnecessary health risks, she explained.
For first-time vendors joining the regional festival circuit, Louis encouraged new operators to learn from the experience of seasoned vendors and fully embrace the existing food safety standards set for the event. She also highlighted ongoing support available to all vendors through the public health department, including structured education and training sessions for food handlers. These sessions are designed to walk vendors through their regulatory obligations, build practical knowledge of safe food preparation and serving practices, and help them complete required certification processes.
To ensure compliance throughout the run of the WCMF and connected events, Louis confirmed that environmental health officers will carry out systematic, frequent inspections across all vendor sites. Inspectors will examine key areas including personal hygiene of staff, food protection measures, temperature compliance, availability of functional handwashing infrastructure, proper waste disposal practices, and the validity of all food handler certifications.
Louis stressed that inspection teams will approach their work with a collaborative, supportive mindset, working directly with vendors to address any identified concerns rather than issuing punitive measures for minor, unintentional oversights.
Beyond vendor responsibilities, Louis also issued guidance for consumers attending the events, urging attendees to proactively pay attention to how vendors prepare, store, and serve food. She recommended festival-goers intentionally select vendors who visibly maintain good hygiene practices and keep all food items properly covered when not being served.
“If food does not look or appear to have been handled safely, make the safe choice. Your health is worth it,” Louis advised.
Closing her appeal, Louis emphasized that the shared goal of all stakeholders should be to ensure Dominica’s 2024 festival celebrations leave only positive, safe memories for attendees. “To our vendors, keep up the good work. To our new vendors, rise to the standards,” she said, repeating her call for consumers to make intentional, safe choices and join the effort to celebrate safely.