By Roy Sanford, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
WESTMORELAND FARMER Arthur Lawson has welcomed the move by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) to dispatch 50 specially trained constables to strategic areas on the island to combat praedial larceny.
He is, however, convinced that the Government is still not doing enough to protect farmers and he believes more must be done.
"I welcome the news," Lawson told The Gleaner in an interview. "However, this should have been done a long time ago since we farmers have been suffering for a long time."
Describing praedial larceny as the 'scourge' of the island's farmers, Lawson said that he has lost approximately $50,000 in revenue over the past few months to thieves. He said the loss is going to make it very difficult for him to get back into operation. "I am owing the bank money and I cannot even repay it," he lamented. "Right now, I need at least $100,000 to put the farm back on its feet."
Lawson thinks that the authorities must do more in order to combat praedial larceny, including the amendment of the law, giving farmers the power of arrest. "I believe the laws should be amended to give farmers the power to arrest someone who have no right to be on their farms," he said. He also said the constables and the police should work together and share intelligence to combat the problems of thieves and the illegal trading of stolen produce. "The regular police and the constables should be able to share intelligence and they should work together in order to be more efficient," he noted.
The constables, who are operating under the auspices of Agricultural Produce Act, were dispatched to strategic areas throughout the island to focus on routes used by traders of stolen produce. They have power to stop vehicles suspected of trafficking in stolen produce. They are a prelude to a major offensive against praedial larceny promised by the Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, and Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, last year.
