Speculation is rife that all is not well with a government scheme that involves the importation of a number of cows from a farm on the sister isle of Carriacou.

Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that several heads of cattle have been taken away without the necessary permission from the relevant authority in the Ministry of Agriculture.The animals were reportedly purchased by government from the Kent Estate in Carriacou and brought to the Mainland to help in the revitalisation of the livestock industry.

A source who spoke on condition that he was not named said that some of the animals have already been given away with no records in the ministry to activists of the ruling New National Party (NNP) government in the rural St. Patrick East constituency. He said it appears that the Keith Mitchell-led government is embarking on a scheme aimed at giving away cows in order to win some votes in the constituency for the next general election.

"A lot of the cows have been given away to NNP people in River Sallee and Mt. Rose", he added. Government insiders have confided to this newspaper that the St. Patrick's East constituency, headed by Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is being targeted by the NNP in the next poll.

The NNP is said to have its sights set on recapturing the seat along with St. Andrew South-east, held by embattled Congress member, Kenrick Fullerton. The NNP defeated candidate for St. Patrick East, Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Senator Adrian "Spaceman" Mitchell is said to be back in the running to contest the seat once again.

Another front-runner, newly elected President of the Senate, Kenny Lalsingh has reportedly met with stiff resistance from NNP supporters in the constituency. The source pointed out that one of the animals was recently slaughtered by a leading government official in St. Patrick East who then proceeded to give out 2 lbs of meat free to several residents of the area.

Attempts by this newspaper to reach the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture for comment on the issue proved futile. However, an official in the ministry told this newspaper that there are fears that the cattle project could end up similar to a high bred goat importation scheme which saw several of the animals ending up in the wrong hands.