MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A standoff between farmers in Bellefield, Manchester and representatives from UC Rusal Alumina Jamaica/Windalco was quelled on Thursday after the farmers were given the assurance that valuations would be done following damage to their fields by cattle belonging to the company.

Herman Wilson, whose sweet potato field was damaged by the cattle, expressed his frustration with not being compensated for previous damage to his crops by cattle owned by Windalco.

“This area Top Hope on the Windalco property which we leased. Some of us got damage to our crops by the cattle in February and we didn’t get any payment… even after a valuation was done. The cattle came again on August 3 and last night (Wednesday) and we haven’t seen any valuation done,” he told journalists on Tuesday.

“The [cattle] damaged sweet potato, carrots. They ate off all the sweet potatoes off my farm. The damage on my field is about two acres and they went to other farmers’ field,” added Wilson.

Damian Palmer, whose field was also damaged, said about 20 farmers were impacted by the cattle.

“When I got here to how the [cattle] sweep clean the area I thought it was a tornado when the dust get up. We want our loss to be valued so we can be compensated,” he said.

The farmers sought assistance from political representatives, including Councillor Mario Mitchell (People’s National Party, Bellefield Division) and Mandeville Mayor Donovan Mitchell, who is also the PNP’s candidate for Manchester Central to voice their concerns.

The farmers collectively sought the services of a valuator to determine their losses.

Palmer criticised Windalco for poorly maintaining its pasture fencing.

“When you go down by Windalco and [look] at the wires, cow can just step through them. From Bellefield going to Long Hill, Williamsfield, Content to Top Hope property. People see them and I am wondering if they are waiting until the [cattle] cost life. If that is the time they plan to take it up in hand,” he said.

Maksym Losyev, deputy director of agriculture at UC Rusal Alumina Jamaica, told farmers that work has been done to rectify the fencing.

“Yes I am going to secure the fencing. We do have fencing around the line of the Manchester pasture. We strengthened the fencing in the area and we have put another fence on the main road, so the cows cannot come out,” he said.

Losyev declined to speak to the media regarding the concerns of the farmers.

Councillor Mario Mitchell and Mayor Donovan Mitchell called on Windalco to remedy the situation.

“The farmers called us to have a dialogue on their behalf with the company as they have some damages to their crops and the culprits are the [cattle] owned by Windalco…Mr Losyev was here to have dialogue with the farmers and somehow it became contentious, so we are here to ensure that the farmers’ interests are represented and to listen to what Windalco has to say,” said Mario Mitchell.

“I have looked at one of the farms where you would find sweet potato and carrot, it is no more. They (farmers) need to be told what will be the procedure in order for them to be compensated…We will have further dialogue with the company to ensure that there is an amicable agreement. I was told at one time that the company said they would give the farmers seeds, that is not so, because the farms are almost ready to be reaped and so somebody has to stand up for the farmers,” said Donovan Mitchell.

— Kasey Williams

(Video: Kasey Williams)