The government is moving to strengthen the laws to protect crops and property from cattle roaming in the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary (MMA) area.
According to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, government continues to see the destruction of crops and infrastructure very seriously and Cabinet has agreed that the Attorney General’s Chambers would draft changes to the laws as part of a comprehensive plan.
Persaud made the disclosure in response to a question in Parliament by PNCR-1G MP Jennifer Wade, who sought to find out what is being done to deal with cattle farmers whose animals continue to roam and destroy rice crops and drainage and irrigation works controlled by MMA-Development Autho-rity.
The current MMA Act provides for convicted offenders to pay fines and as well as expenses incurred by the Authority to treat with the issue of cattle roaming. However, Persaud also noted that MMA Authority can only take action to protect the infrastructure as is within its means, since its activities are dependent on payments from the beneficiaries and users of the services it provides. He noted a case in Yeoville, where 11 members of one family, with lands totalling 345 acres, collectively owe $6,341,371. “Can the [MMA] be expected to function effectively with this level of delinquency?” he asked.
Persaud also said that with the increasingly participatory nature of operations and maintenance of drainage and irrigation schemes emphasis would shift to self regulation and cooperation by and between the residents of the communities where the problem is experienced. In fact, he emphasised that some of the cattle farmers cultivate rice and belong to both the Cattle Farmers Association and the Rice Producers Association.
He said that it would be easier for them to cooperate among themselves and treat with the issue. Moreover, he said the government must studiously avoid doing what communities must do for themselves.
Persaud also mentioned that proprietors and lessees are free to take necessary action within the laws to protect their crops and property.
