KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, has welcomed the amendment to the Anti-Gang Legislation which provides greater prominence to crimes of praedial larceny, and will ensure harsher penalties for offenders.

Green says the Legislation, which is named on the books as The Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) (Amendment) Act, 2021, correctly identifies the trends that exist in praedial larceny, wherein many organised gangs are involved in the crime.

“Praedial larceny is a major crime and in a number of areas in Jamaica, is being carried out by criminal organisations. Persons who commit these unscrupulous acts against our famers must feel the full extent of the law. This move to enable these matters to be brought under the Anti-Gang Legislation, indicates that this Government is serious about taking the strongest steps possible to combat the crime of praedial larceny,” he said.

The amendments include making larceny of cattle and killing animals with the intent to steal, serious offences for which people who are part of criminal organisations can now be charged. Penalties can go up to 20 years for the first conviction on indictment.

The minister said this is another indication of the zero-tolerance approach being taken by the Government to the crime, and a significant step in protecting the livelihoods of farmers.