‘Clean and green’ standards range from food safety to environmental management

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has developed a new slate of health standards for the Caribbean hotel industry. 

The new “clean and green” standards, which were recently unveiled, will range from food safety and sanitation to pest and environmental management.

CARPHA Executive Director Dr Joy St John explains that, with the new standards in place, “there is now a verifiable way of having the suite of standards act as a crucial tool for establishing the quality of Caribbean tourism”.

The “clean and green” standards will be a key component of assuring trailers about companies’ commitment to health and safety. The standards are part of a yearslong effort by CARPHA to help ensure the health and wellbeing of both travelers and hospitality employees. 

For now, the standards are voluntary but certified properties that meet all seven of the standards will be eligible for a “platinum distinction”.

Move being hailed by many officials

Dr Faith B. Yisrael, deputy chief secretary in the Tobago House of Assembly, responded: “If we pull together and if we actually follow these robust standards … we would all really truly survive whatever is to come next.” 

In a statement, Frank Comito, special adviser to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, remarks that the standards “can help us to deliver our promise to the world and there is no better place for mental, physical and spiritual well-being than in the Caribbean”.

For his part, Neil Walters, acting secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, said: “I believe we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable, world-class, regional tourism sector as this very important sector moves forward in its recovery.”

In 2014, CARPHA signed a landmark agreement with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association to focus on regional health in the hospitality sector. 

The Caribbean health authority also played a vital role in the region’s response to COVID-19, including training 7,000 hospitality professionals in the Caribbean in preventing and controlling the spread of the virus in 2020 and 2021. 

CARPHA also helped lead to a regional response that was highlighted as among the best in the world.