Stronger controls needed in praedial larceny fight

Better regulations need to be established to ensure that those engaged in the theft of crops and livestock are deterred from doing so.

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, says while he applauds the efforts of those who try to help themselves, doing so at someone else’s expense he said, through illegal activities, cannot be condoned.

“That’s why I think there should be controls introduced to try to ensure that persons who sell produce come into possession of those things in a lawful manner. I am saying this type of behaviour is being supported by the community, these people carry the produce of their ill-gotten gains somewhere to sell and that is why I think we need the co-operation of all stakeholders, not just the law enforcement agents, but those people who the thieves take produce to for sale,” he said in an interview with The Barbados Advocate.

Paul is adamant that anyone selling crops or meat should be subject to greater scrutiny, and he is urging the public to be careful who they purchase produce from. He made the point while contending that consumers have a right to ask vendors to show proof of ownership. In fact, he said the members of the public have a duty, where they suspect produce is stolen, to inform the police. Moreover, the BAS CEO said he would like to see agricultural inspectors conducting more checks to ensure that all produce for sale was obtained legally. Furthermore, he is urging persons not to see such action as harassment, but rather to view it as a means of ensuring the viability of the local agricultural sector.

“The question of praedial larceny has nothing to do with the legislation, it has to do with enforcement and the authorities, the judges, the police officers or the inspectors who are paid by the public on a monthly basis to do a job, need to work hand in hand to do those jobs,” he maintained.

The BAS head added, “When you have people on the highway selling cane, or in markets selling produce and they cannot explain, or give a proper explanation of how they came into possession of it, they should be called to account and the court system should deal with these people expeditiously, because justice delayed is justice denied.”

With that in mind, he is urging the powers that be in the judiciary to move with alacrity to bring such cases to trial. He made the point while contending that the authorities can only do so much; after they catch the culprits, he stated, it is up to the court to ensure the matters are heard and that the persons receive the appropriate punishment. (JRT)