Anti-praedial larceny initiative launched

Laura Redpath, Senior Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has partnered with the health and national security ministeries in another attempt to combat the problem of farm theft.

It is estimated that every year more than $5 billion in crops and livestock is stolen.

The initiative called the Praedial Larceny Prevention Programme, was launched yesterday at the Hilton hotel in New Kingston.

According to the agriculture ministry, farm theft, which has also been affecting more than 228,000 familes, is a disincentive for agricultural investors.

"It has evolved into a level of deviant behaviour where men or whoever drive up on farms in trucks with high-powered weapons and literally clean out fish ponds, clean out livestock pastures, cut down loads of bananas and I could go and on," said Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of agriculture and fisheries.

According to praedial-larceny prevention coordinator, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Dunn, the programme, which has been progressing well, will enforce existing laws. He also said laws meant to monitor acceptable agricultural and fishing practices are up for review.

"There are a lot of inconsistencies between the acts and penalties for breaking the laws. For example, there is a $1,000 fine for the possession of lobsters during the closed season.

"I'm sure a lobster meal in one evening will cover that fine," he said.

Tufton agreed that the laws must support the anti-praedial larceny initiative.

"There are a number of laws in Jamaica today that are outdated," he said.

Dunn, who operates out of the Ministry of National Security, is responsible for coordinating sting operations at hot spots in order to make high-profile arrests and prosecutions.

The hot spots include ports, abattoirs, meat markets, fish sanctuaries and roads that surround these areas.

According to the agriculture ministry, joint operations are being planned involving the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force, Coastguard, marine police, public-health inspectors at the Ministry of Health and the Fisheries Division.

"The deviants are quite creative," Tufton said. "There are cases of them dressing up the animals like human beings with eyeglasses and hats."

Minister of National Security, Dwight Nelson, condemned praedial larceny, saying it is a national security issue as it is an economic concern.

"We have a level of criminal genius in our society," Nelson said, adding that he is frightened by the magnitude of the cruelty involved in praedial larceny.

TOMORROW: Farmers' reactions to the Praedial Larceny Prevention Programme.