The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security has discussed with the police hierarchy, the establishment of a praedial larceny unit to fight the criminal activity.
Agriculture Minister Indar Weir made this disclosure today as he also indicated that praedial larceny legislation would be introduced in Parliament by the end of next month.
Weir said several initiatives to help counter the theft of produce and animals were in the pipeline, including geofencing and the use of high-powered drones. These initiatives were discussed in a February 3 meeting with Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce.
“I can give you the assurance that we are working on the legislation that is going to deal with praedial larceny. On February 3 we met with the Commissioner of Police to look at the establishment at a Praedial Larceny Unit within the Barbados Police Service. The Commissioner of Police assured us that there is already work going on with the Barbados Police Service and the Barbados Defence Force under the caption, Birds Eye and they are working through the Barbados Police Service’s Tactical Unit.
“We would all recognize that praedial larceny is just like any other criminal activity. We will put the legislation in place but we are going to need a number of other things in order for us to be able to control this. The joint effort between the Barbados Police Service and the Barbados Defence Force is on.
“We certainly will have to look at geofencing because with geofencing it sends off alarms so farmers would know what is taking place on the farm. When we discussed the matter of using drones with the Commissioner of Police he indicated they were going to look at a special type of drone that is going to be able to give us facial recognition and those types of things as well,” Weir said while speaking before the Standing Finance Committee on the Appropriation Bill, 2022, in Parliament this afternoon. (RB)
