Help us farmers to survive
published: Tuesday | August 10, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I WRITE on behalf of thousands of small farmers and myself who suffer from praedial larceny. We have an estimated loss of $600 billion through praedial larceny over the past ten years. We elect a government to protect life and property. Both political parties fail to amend the agricultural produce act since 1926 to eliminate praedial larceny. As a farmer my estimated loss over the past ten years is $2-1 million. Since April of 2003 my loss is $52,000 up to June 30 2004.

I am now in a state of not being able to meet my creditors, my loss includes mangoes, coconuts, soursops, citrus and other domestic food crops. Under the present condition rising costs of input, farmers are heading to prison. We feed the nation and farmers have the same protection under the constitution to be protected under the law. We have no legal rights. We cannot take it any longer.

I am appealing to government, the private sector, human rights, the opposition, Jamaicans for Justice, the bankers, the church, to speak for the farmers. Please help us to survive. If we don't get help the prison will not be able to hold us.

I am, etc.,

C. LAWSON

Grange Hill P.O

Westmoreland