South Leeward MP calls on owners to tie their animals

IN THE wake of complaints by a number of callers to the New Times programme on Nice Radio on Wednesday, July 6, Parliamentary Representative for South Leeward, Nigel Stephenson has called on owners to tether their animals.

Persons called into the New Democratic Party’s programme complaining that sheep and goats left to roam freely were destroying their crops and this is becoming an issue of major concern.

Several victims, spoke about the crops, and banana plants in their back yards being destroyed by roaming animals and expressed disgust and frustration over the situation.

The practise is common in rural areas where farmers are also engaged in animal husbandry.

Sometimes, these animals are not tied but left to roam in the village searching for food and in the process destroying crops as they forage for food.

Callers said the situation is especially stressful now that the rains have begun and a quite a few plants are now beginning to spring up again.

Stephenson, who is vice president of the New Democratic Party (NDP), described the situation as “very disheartening,” and noted that “a lot of people are frustrated.”

The South Leeward MP who also was a caller to the programme said “it is extremely difficult for farmers at this point in time”.

“Tie your animals,” Stephenson urged, as he appealed to owners to stop allowing their animals to roam and destroy people’s crops.

To persons who have suffered loss as a result of this

situation, Stephenson is telling them to “exercise restraint” and avoid killing the animals or doing anything which would put them in trouble with the law.

He also made a call for measures to be put in place for persons to be given adequate and quick compensation after suffering such losses.