Police step up vendor inspections

Police have launched checks on agricultural produce vendors, enforcing the Protection of Agricultural Products Act three years after it was passed into law, amid demands for a dedicated crop and livestock unit to tackle rampant agricultural theft, Barbados TODAY has learned.

A senior agriculture ministry official is pointing to a model enforcement unit in Jamaica to protect farmers, vendors, and those transporting crops or livestock.

“Police have started going around to vendors to ensure they have the necessary documentation or receipts to prove they are legitimate buyers or sellers,” Deputy Chief Agriculture Officer Barney Callender told Barbados TODAY on Friday. “The receipt is not the end of it. If an officer believes a receipt is falsified, they can investigate further. They can ask the vendor to identify the source, trace the farmer it came from, and continue the investigation.”

Callender himself participated in checks at Six Roads, St Philip, to verify vendor compliance.

A series of high-profile crop thefts earlier this year, including the loss of an entire quarter-acre of cantaloupes from Spencer’s, Christ Church farmer Veronica Garnes, sparked public outrage after it was reported by Barbados TODAY in July.

Callender said the 2022 law is “pretty strong” and praised the police for supporting its implementation. He confirmed that there would be increased police presence in areas where vending takes place.

Despite the rollout, he acknowledged challenges posed by limited police resources and stressed the need for a specialised unit. “Two or four policemen cannot do the job. There are so many demands on the force that we need a dedicated squad focused on praedial larceny, like in Jamaica. Farmers have been calling for this for some time,” he said.

Established in 2015, Jamaica’s Praedial Larceny Prevention Coordination Unit is the primary enforcement unit for tackling the theft of agricultural produce. The unit includes an administrative arm at the Ministry of Agriculture and an enforcement arm, led by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The unit also works with the Jamaica Agricultural Society and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority to reduce the theft and illegal distribution of farm produce across the island.

The unit is also involved in training and deploying agricultural wardens, who are police officers specifically tasked with handling agricultural crimes in high-risk areas.

Farmers have sometimes refrained from reporting theft due to perceived inaction, Callender added. “One farmer told us he is no longer interested in making reports because the response has not been adequate. We need the police to respond so we can quantify losses and understand what is happening.”

Callender also warned that some perpetrators are now arming themselves: “Thieves are arming themselves, and that is not surprising. They are involved in a risky business and are aware of potential confrontations.”

While the Ministry of Agriculture enforces a zero-tolerance approach, the deputy chief noted that legislation alone is insufficient. He called for increased surveillance of larger establishments such as supermarkets. “Supermarkets and shops must be part of the system. You cannot have them purchasing products without verification from farmers or vendors,” he said.

Additional support measures for farmers were highlighted, including rebates for security systems. “Farmers are spending up to $80 000 a year on security. That is money lost. We are exploring ways to assist them while maintaining protection of their produce,” he added.

Callender also underscored the broader implications of praedial larceny on food safety and national well-being. “It threatens food security and public health. Produce harvested after pesticides have been sprayed can enter the market, putting consumers at risk. It affects everyone — the farmer and their family — so it must be controlled.”

The 2022 Protection of Agricultural Products Act provides for fines of up to $100 000, imprisonment for five years, or both. Previously, the maximum fine was $5 000.​

Various farming bodies and associations have long called for stronger measures, with stakeholders, including the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and the police, meeting in August at a high-level praedial larceny forum at Kensington Oval to address the issue.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb