Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Spanish Town, St. Catherine:

Many persons taken before the courts by the Island Special Constabulary for not having a Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) prescribed receipt, have been finding themselves paying fines of up to $2,000 each, according to a St. Catherine judge.

Resident Magistrate Lorna Errar-Gayle told persons who appeared before her on Tuesday that, despite getting a receipt of purchase from the various distributors of ground provisions, they need to have the prescribed receipt book done by RADA.

The judge told them it was the only authentic way for the court and the police to ascertain that they have actually come in possession of the goods through justifiable means.

Several of the persons who came, told the judge that despite showing other receipts to the police, they were charged with not having any RADA receipts.

Those who contravened the law were told that RADA and the Jamaica Agricultural Society are the legitimate bodies that are able to give certificates to farmers to show that they have been registered.