No evidence of increase in rodent population at MCHM – Health Minister

MINISTER OF HEALTH, Wellness and the Environment, St Clair Prince has outlined that his ministry is increasing methods of baiting and trapping rodents, and also intensifying clean up efforts around health facilities across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), to keep the rodent population under control.

He also noted that 27 persons have been added to the staff of the Vector Control Unit in this regard.

Minister Prince was speaking in Parliament on Monday, July 28, 2025 where he was responding to a question about a rat problem at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH).

The question was posed by opposition member for West Kingstown, Daniel Cummings. He stated that there appears to be an increase in the number of rats at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, and asked whether the minister was aware “of this development”; whether there is a programme in place “to treat this mater urgently and effectively”; and if there was the “filling of the various hallways and walkways in the hospital with what can only be described as solid waste” that is contributing to the presence of rats and other vermin at the country’s main public health facility.

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