WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Western, Morland Wilson, is calling on the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC) to open an animal pound in the parish.

Wilson says the latter would assist in the control of strays wreaking havoc in the parish. He has also pledged to purchase ropes to distribute to farmers to help secure their animals in a bid to save lives.

Wilson’s appeal comes on the heels of another accident in his constituency of Little London on Sunday night where a Toyota Voxy collided with a cow. Unconfirmed reports are that the cow walked into the path of the vehicle.

“They [The WMC] need to act now in the interest of the people. They were voted for in February to represent the people in Westmoreland and we need that representation now. The Member of Parliament cannot build a pound. In fact, right now I’m looking to look at buying some rope and give out to these farmers,” Wilson told Observer Online on Monday.

Last night’s accident coincided with the candle light vigil of businessman Donathan ‘Derron’ or ‘Dego’ Dillon, who crashed into a cow while driving his motorcycle along the Waterworks Main road in the parish last Friday night.

Dillon succumbed at hospital, leaving his family to pick up the pieces.

READ: Businessman dies after crashing into cow

“I’m very concerned. In fact, I’m very disturbed because it’s [been] over a year now we have been talking about these cows on the road,” Wilson argued.

He said several discussions have been had with the Municipal Corporation to come up with ways to combat the problem.

“We have had many discussions with the Municipal Corporation about the pound. We’ve been waiting on a pound for four years and to date, nothing has been done. We’ve had a change of leadership at the municipal corporation and still nothing has been done,” he stressed.

He noted that the corporation has been tight lipped even with another fatality.

“Just last we lost a life in another section of the parish and we haven’t heard anything from the parish”, he reasoned.

Meanwhile, councillor for the Little London Division Ian Myles, said the strays have been putting a financial burden on several residents.

“It’s sad, to say the least. The psychological pressure; the financial burden which is undertaken by family members during these ordeals – it’s a sad situation and I want to utter condolences to the family of Derron. He’s somebody I was pretty close to. It’s sad that he lost his life last week,” Myles told Observer Online.

Myles said he would have attended a meeting on Monday where the issue would have been raised.

He foresees that a regional pound would act as a deterrent to farmers who would have to travel a long distance to retrieve their animal.

“We have to institute that pound to ensure that they [farmers] are brought to hear and face the full brunt of the law. It is happening too regularly.  It’s as if the farmers are rearing the animals on the road network,” he argued.

–          Kimberley Peddie