John Myers Jr., Agriculture Coordinator

Members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) show off their skills while testing the new trail bikes at Harman Barracks, Camp Road, in St. Andrew, last Friday. - Contributed photos

The assault against the scourge of praedial larceny has been bolstered with the graduation of 36 police personnel from the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF), who have been specially trained to tackle the perennial problem that has cost livestock farmers more than $100 million since the start of the year.

"We are very ecstatic. I think we have been looking for this moment," Senator Norman Grant, president of the Jamaica Agricul-tural Society, stated following the graduation ceremony. In delivering the keynote address at the graduation ceremony held at Harman Barracks, off Camp Road in St. Andrew, last Friday. He said with the training of ISCF personnel and the acquisition of 50 trail bikes, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority's computerised farmers' registration system could be used by the police to determine persons who are bonafide cultivators when conducting investigations. More than 92,000 farmers have been registered on the system so far. It is estimated that there are over 200,000 farmers on the island.

Vigilante butchers

In recent months, the cries from farmers have got louder and more frequent. However, it is the livestock farmers who are feeling the brunt of the praedial thieves' wrath as the 'vigilante butchers' kill animals on spot and the carcasses whisked away almost immediately. Agricultural stakeholders charged that the act was being carried out by a highly-trained and organised network of persons, whom it is believed, is made up of professional butchers.

Senator Grant said the loss to livestock farmers as a result of praedial larceny has reached more than $100 million so far for the year. It is estimated that more than $4 billion is lost annually from praedial larceny. But adding to the farmers' woes, is the perceived lack of interest displayed by the police in apprehending praedial suspects when reported.

Lack of resources

Balteano Duffus, general secretary of the Beef and Dairy Producers Association (BADPAJ) at a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum, pointed out that "the problem that the farmers are having ... is that when they go to the police, the police treat the matter very tritely." Further, he said, the farmers "do not believe that the Government is doing enough and that the Government takes it seriously."

But Commandant Broomfield explained that the lack of resources was inhibiting the police from effectively addressing the issue.

"We are approximately 700 personnel short islandwide and that is really one of the challenges. We are recruiting but what we have a difficulty with is facility for training (also). There is competing interest for the facility at the Jamaica Police Academy."

He said the facility could only accommodate 300 personnel and with training for Cricket World Cup now under way, he said the situation was even more challenging. However, he said the police hierarchy was scouting for an improved location in the Old Harbour area of St. Catherine to conduct training. "I gather they are looking at somewhere in Old Harbour and the capacity there is over 400 and we are looking at for approximately 200 out of that 400," Commandant Broomfield told The Gleaner.

"We are hoping, however, that the coming on stream of the Receipt Book System to coincide with this set of police officers to particularly target praedial larceny, we'll see some changes there," he outlined.

The ISCF commandant said the aim is to train between 150 and 200 ISCF members, whose responsibilities would include enforcing the Agricultural Produce Act, and the Forestry, Wildlife and Beach Control Acts. With this, he said, it would require an additional 50 trail bikes.

He explained that the candidates were trained to manoeuvre the rough terrain of the hills and valleys of the rural areas with the new trail bikes. Also, he said they were reminded of the laws and responsibilities relating to their tasks. Mr. Broomfield boasted of the ISCF's untarnished track record and expressed confidence that the team of law enforcers would be successful in their bid to stamp out the incidences of praedial larceny and environmental law violations. "The farmers will be seeing us both at night and in the day," he assured.

Mr. Broomfield said three bikes and nine ISCF personnel will be assigned to each parish with three shifts operating on a daily basis.