#Kingston, July 15, 2019 – Jamaica – The Government intends to make changes to the Agricultural Produce Act before the end of the year in order to enable farmers to recover the full cost of stolen produce.
The proposed amendments include increasing fines from $250,000 to $3 million, expanding the definition of praedial larceny, and simplifying the procedures for registering and licensing all handlers of agricultural produce.
Minister
without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and
Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, said that the existing fines do not serve as a
deterrent against praedial larceny.
“When
they (praedial larcenists) are fined, it’s just like a tap on the wrist and
they go and steal again,” he noted. “Anybody
that is caught must pay the farmer the cost of whatever they have stolen,” he said.
Minister
Hutchinson was speaking at the 124th Annual General Meeting of the
Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) held at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon
on Wednesday (July 10).
JAS Chairman,
Lenworth Fulton, said his organisation is committed to fighting praedial
larceny and assisting farmers affected by the crime.
“We
are a trustee of Crime Stop, and every President of the JAS has kept the issue
of praedial larceny on the front burner,” he noted.
Contact: Ainsworth Morris
Release: JIS
Photo: Adrian Walker
Header: Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, addressing the Jamaica Agricultural Society’s 124th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday (July 10), at the Denbigh Showground in May Pen, Clarendon.
Insert: President, Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Lenworth Fulton, speaks at the organisation’s 124th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday (July 10), at the Denbigh Showground in May Pen, Clarendon.