APR 24

The issue of Praedial Larceny was the main concern for cocoa farmers during the general meeting of the Association which was held last Wednesday at the Public Workers Union (PWU) building in Tanteen.

The farmers appealed to newly appointed Agriculture Minister Gregory Bowen to come up with an immediate solution saying that they had lost thousands of dollars worth of crops due to the actions of thieves.

The minister promised that the situation will be immediately addressed because government sees Praedial Larceny as a major crime against farmers.

He disclosed that a programme will soon be launched whereby all farmers in Grenada will be registered and that there will be the introduction of a new Praedial Larceny Bill in Parliament by June this year.

When the law does take effect it will among other things provide hefty fines and penalties for persons caught and convicted of this crime. Moreover, it will allow for a name and shame policy. Under this policy, persons convicted will have their names and photographs published in addition to the imposition of fines, penalties and prison sentences.

Under the legislation, vendors who do business with these thieves will also be prosecuted. In his address to farmers, Bowen encouraged them to join with the other commodity boards so that they can purchase items such as fertilizer in bulk as a cost reduction measure.

He stressed the need for them to work collectively with other institutions in Grenada and to take advantage of subsidies that are available to farmers.

The Agriculture Minister reminded them that they are the ones to control their own destiny and so the issue of extension services should not be the duty of the Ministry.

Bowen stated that part of the re-organisation plan of the ministry is for the revitalisation of over one thousand acres of neglected lands.
He said that when this happens it can result in the increased production of one million pounds of cocoa being produced which can be sold on the international market.

He disclosed that the Mirabeau Agriculture Training School will soon re-open as part of the revitalisation to provide training for young men and women in all areas of the sector.