The country has so far spent US$22 million (J$1.4 billion) on the screwworm eradication programme, which got under way in 1999.

Eight years into the programme, which is set to expire this year, the Opposition in the Senate on Friday expressed disappointment with the results achieved.

This was dismissed, however, by the Government, with Senator A.J Nicholson, Leader of Government Business, praising the initiative for the reductions achieved so far.

According to Sen. Nicholson, screwworm infestation cases fell from 3,728 in 2003 to 1,813 in 2006.

Sen. Nicholson was responding to questions previously tabled by Sen. Anthony Johnson, Leader of Opposition Business and Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture.

Sen. Johnson was less than impressed, however, pointing out that the number of heads of cattle in the country had fallen from more than 300,000 to approximately 70,000 today. Accordingly, he argued, there had, in effect, been an increase in the incidence of infestation per head of cattle.

Sen. Nicholson acknowledged that the screwworm eradication programme had not proceeded as smoothly as anticipated. This, he attributed to several factors, such as a series of severe floods, which retarded the release of the sterile flies used in the eradication effort.

He insisted, nevertheless, that significant progress had been achieved.