Members of the Island Special Constabulary Force prepare to test-ride the new trail bikes last Friday.

With the acquisition of 50 trail bikes and the training of 36 members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF), the Government is to launch a public education campaign to strengthen efforts against praedial larceny.

Senator Norman Grant, president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), announced that the Ministry of National Security has allocated $280,000 to fund the campaign which will be broadcast on radio and television and published in the press.

Praedial thieves

"In another 10 days we are going to be having a number of advertisements on television and radio and in the newspaper," Senator Grant told The Gleaner. "It is going to run for an original period of six weeks and then we will reassess it," he explained.

The JAS president assured that "we will not leave any stone unturned, the common enemy are the praedial thieves." He emphasised that "there are far less of them than there are of us who are honest farmers and we are closing in on them and we are going to make them understand that the backs of our farmers is not the place to live."

Additionally, Senator Grant said he would be recommending the names of three members of the JAS to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands for the set up of an appeal committee which is to review cases under the Agricultural produce Act.

In the meantime, he is recommending that the Trespass Act be reviewed and a special day be dedicated for the hearing of cases under the Agricultural Produce Act. Also, he is recommending that offenders under the Agricultural Produce Act be given the option of carrying out community service as punishment and that restitution becomes part of the law. Senator Grant said he would be seeking a meeting with Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe to discuss the recommendations.