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:
- Have the Agricultural Producers become familiar with the work of the Subcommittee.
- Hear from the Agricultural Producers about the problems being faced with reference to Praedial Larceny.
- Advise the Agricultural producers of the actions of the subcommittee to date.
- Present draft/proposed legislation.
- 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.