MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES
Statement by the Hon Audley Shaw, CD, MP
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
Killing and Injury of Farmers by Praedial Larcenists
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As Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, I wish to express my profound regret at the recent killing of the two small ruminant farmers in Westmoreland - 76-year-old Henry Jones and 42-year-old Bryan Chambers - and offer my sincere condolences to members of the bereaved families and the farming community at large.
I also strongly condemn the shooting incident which took place in Spanish Town last Friday morning, resulting in the injury of a goat farmer and two other persons in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
This follows the recovery by the police of the farmer’s 30 goats that were stolen earlier and speaks to the extent that criminals are prepared to go to reap what they have not grown.
I join with all well-thinking Jamaicans in condemning these dastardly acts and call on the police to leave no stones unturned in bringing justice to the families of these men, even as I urge members of the public to come forward with any information that you may have that could assist the police in a speedy resolution of these murders.
Meanwhile, I urge farmers not to take matters into their own hands but to report incidences of praedial larceny to the police and
work with the Ministry’s Praedial Larceny Prevention Unit, headed by Superintendent Oral Pascoe, to put in preventative measures at their farms to deter praedial thieves.
I wish to assure you that while praedial larceny continues to be a challenge for the sector, the police continue to make strides to apprehend those who rob our farmers and fishers with some 41 arrests made during January to October 2021.
The Ministry remains resolute in its commitment to continue working with the police in providing the necessary support in ramping up their surveillance activities within the various farming communities as we fight to reduce the incidences of praedial larceny as well as the loss of lives and livelihoods.
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