Northwest Anti-Praedial Larceny Consultation

The Ministry of Agriculture launched its first Anti-Praedial Larceny consultancy last evening at the Multipurpose Centre.  Over the next six weeks, consultations will be held on Praedial Larceny which has been on the rise since 2019.

This criminal act was brought to the ministry’s attention around the beginning of the recent COVID-19 Pandemic and it’s the ministry’s determination to bring the unlawful act to a halt. The ministry will be engaging with farmers and producers within six districts.  These districts are:

Northwest:  Bendals, Barthlodge, Cassada Gardens, McKinnons, Carlisle, Creekside and Five Islands

Southwest:  Ebenezer, Jennings, Christian Valley, Cades Bay, Tremontania and John Hughes

South Central: Burkes, Sanderson, Jonas Road, Falmouth, Liberta, and Table Hill Garden

Southeast:  Bethesda, New Field, St. Phillips and Freetown

Northeast:  Parham Lodge, Pares, Betty’s Hope, Glanville, Seatons and Willikies

Barbuda

 

The Anti-Praedial Subcommittee consists of a wide cross-section of stakeholders and was mandated to address the revision of the legislation.  The members are:

Martin Cave – Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce – Chairperson

Marvin Joseph – Poultry Farmer Association – Vice chair

Andrea Jacobs – Ministry of Agriculture – Attorney

Jason Fleming – Ministry of Agriculture – IT Officer

Brent Joseph – Beekeeper Cooperative/ Ministry of Agriculture

Elson Quami – RPFAB – Superintendent of Police

Emmanuel Peters – National Livestock Association

Orel Benjamin – Fisherman’s Co-operative

Ika Fergus – Senior Agricultural Extension Officer (Acting)

Jesse Thomas – Ministry of Tourism

Carol-Faye Bynoe-George – Ministry of Agriculture – Communication Officer

 

The Objectives of the Anti-Praedial Larceny Subcommittee consultations are:

  1. Have the Agricultural Producers become familiar with the work of the Subcommittee.
  2. Hear from the Agricultural Producers about the problems being faced with reference to Praedial Larceny.
  3. Advise the Agricultural producers of the actions of the subcommittee to date.
  4. Present draft/proposed legislation.
  5. Consider local solutions to the PL problem.

Last evening’s consultation was held primarily for the North West District, however, farmers from other areas were also present.

It is anticipated that after the conclusion of these consultations, the subcommittee will be making a submission of proposed solutions and recommendations for recourse and penalties for the new legislation which hopefully would be replacing the 1954 legislation that is very antiquated, has quite a few omissions, do not properly address many issues, but is still being used.

The next upcoming consultation will be for the Southwest District and will be held on Tuesday 14th February at the Bolans Primary School commencing from 6:00p.m.