Andrew Clunis, Freelance Writer
THE PRAEDIAL larceny control programme to aid the island's farmers was officially launched on Wednes-day at the Jamaica Conference Centre. The project, which is aimed at reducing farmers' loss to theft, was kicked off by new first vice-president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Dr. Trevor Dewdney, during the association's 105th annual general meeting.
Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke symbolically presented parish representatives of the JAS with copies of the receipt books which will be used in the programme.
The JAS will now undertake a national education campaign to sensitise farmers as to how the programme will work. Dr. Dewdney said that agricultural wardens are being deployed across the country to investigate, detect and charge persons who have committed offences under the Praedial Larceny and Agricultural Produce Acts. The wardens will work under the direct instruction of police parish co-ordinators.
Exercise vigilance
The receipt books, which will form the focal point of the programme, will be available to farmers at a cost of $150 each at JAS offices islandwide. Each official receipt will be numbered and written up in triplicate. The idea is that whenever people buy or sell agricultural produce, each of the persons involved in the transaction should get a receipt.
Police personnel and wardens will have the power to stop vehicles conveying farm goods and ask for a copy of the receipt. Failure to produce this will result in criminal charges being brought against the trucker. Dr. Dewdney advised that farmers and traders must use the receipt book to save themselves from embarrassment.
He called on farmers to exercise vigilance in the community to aid in the fight against praedial larceny, while warning them not to take the law into their own hands. Farmers were advised in the event of theft to give a detailed report of the loss in terms of type, quantity and value to the district police station and or the secretary of the local JAS branch.
At Wednesday's AGM, A.A. Bobby Pottinger was returned as president of the JAS, beating Norman Grant, head of the St. Andrew Branch Society. Mr. Pottinger's winning team comprised of Dr. Trevor Dewdney as first vice-president and Bert Gordon as second vice-president.
