BIGWOODS, St Elizabeth

The Public Defender’s probe into the fire that damaged agricultural crops valued at $26 million in sections of St Elizabeth last March has been completed.

Deputy Public defender Noel Irving who led the investigations told the Observer West on Tuesday that the report was being prepared for typing.

“We have completed the investigations and I am just reading over the report to get it typed after which time it will be placed on Mr (Earl) Witter’s (Public Defender) desk,” he said.

The three-member team, which began its work last June, made three visits to Ivor Cottage, Bigwoods, Retreat, Retirement and adjoining communities.

The investigations involved the collection of statements from farmers, residents and the police, Irvin said.

He did not reveal the findings of the probe but he pointed out that the report is being submitted after careful analysis of the statements collected and his “personal observation”.

Approximately 90 farmers were affected by the blaze, which damaged 64 hectares of crops and also left 64 goats, valued at $200,000, dead.

Farmers in the affected communities alleged that the fire was caused by the burning of ganja fields by the narcotics police in Bigwoods.

At the request of minister of agriculture Christopher Tufton, who is also the member of Parliament for sections of the affected communities, the Police High Command – less than a week after the fire – launched a probe to ascertain the cause of the blaze.

But two months later, the investigations conducted by the Black River Police, concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that the fire had resulted from the actions of the narcotics police.

Not satisfied with the findings of the probe, the agriculture minister in May asked the public defender to intervene on behalf of the farmers.

Several farmers who spoke with the Observer West yesterday said they were hopeful that the

report would find the narcotics police culpable.

“We know that the police are responsible for the destruction of our crops because they were the ones who set the fires,” said Natalie Gordon who lost thousands of dollars worth of crops during the blaze.

She added that the affected farmers were looking

forward to be compensated for their crops.