NO longer able to cope with the growing number of praedial larceny, the St James farming community recently came together and launched a special committee to address the perennial problem.

The St James Praedial Larceny Committee, to be chaired by the Custos of the parish, Clarence Nelson, was named at a recent meeting of the parish’s Association of Branch Societies at the Mafoota Community Centre in St James.

Other members of the committee include:

. superintendent of police in charge of St James, Newton Amos;

. president of the St James Association of Branch Societies, Glendon Harris;

. president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Mark Kerr-Jarrett;

. manager of the Rural Agricultural Development authority (RADA) in St James and his deputy, Ted Underhill and Donald Robinson, respectively.

The committee also comprises:

. senior probation officer of St James, Keith Thomas;

. executive member of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), St James branch, Glenis Rose and;

. three representatives of large, medium and small farmers’ groups within the Association, Dalkeith Hannah, Cleveland Duncan and Weston Graham respectively.

Addressing farmers on the issue, JAS President Bobby Pottinger said that Prime Minister P J Patterson had given the commitment to amend the Praedial Larceny Produce Act, by April 1, 2003, to combat this illicit activity affecting farmers.

“I am happy that efforts are now underway to come to the rescue of farmers. Together, we are going to stamp out praedial larceny. So, your input is going to be critical because we have too much idle land in Jamaica today,” he said.

The JAS president also stressed that every effort should be made to encourage young people to get involved in agriculture and also to “attract those who have left the land to return and produce”.

Inspector of police, Melvin Dennis of Area 1, who also addressed the large group of farmers in attendance at the meeting, assured them that the police would be doing everything possible to help them fight praedial larceny.

“…The police consider farmers as the backbone and lifeblood of society. Hence, we will be embarking on a new thrust in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture and other government agencies, to wipe out praedial larceny from this country,” Dennis said.

He urged farmers and all citizens in general to assist the police in this programme as they cannot accomplish such a huge task on their own.

“You in your respective communities, look out for the thieves, protect your investments, safeguard yourselves because it is your bread and butter and your pension and your family and the entire country are depending on you,” Dennis stressed.

Specially trained constables were recently dispatched to strategic areas throughout the island, with the power to stop and search vehicles suspected of trafficking stolen produce. This represented one of the recent moves by the ministers of National Security and Agriculture in combating praedial larceny.