Connect with us

Caribbean News

House Passes Praedial Larceny Act Amendments to Combat Agricultural Theft

Published

on

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, addresses the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 17)

Kingston, June 18, 2025 (JIS) – The House of Representatives, on Tuesday (June 17), passed amendments to the Praedial Larceny Act, aimed at combatting the theft of agricultural produce, livestock and fish.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, who piloted the legislation, stated that, upon enactment, the Bill will strengthen the penalties for offences committed under the Act or those outlined in its First Schedule.

“The objective of the amendments is to improve deterrence and reinforce the legal framework by increasing the fines and terms of imprisonment to effectively address the persistent challenges posed by agricultural crimes, thereby safeguarding the sector,” he said.

“For instance, this Bill seeks to expand the powers of the Agricultural Wardens, enabling them to enforce provisions under related legislation, including the Agricultural Produce Act, and the Animals (Diseases and Importation) (Marking of Bovine Animals) Regulations,” Mr. Green added.

He further indicated that the Bill will introduce consequential amendments to critical enactments in the First Schedule, strengthening weak penalties under specific pieces of legislation, such as the Trespass Act, Malicious Injuries to Property Act, Unlawful Possession of Property Act, and Country Fires Act.

“We will include additional offences under the Larceny Act, such as robbery and receiving stolen property, and under the Malicious Injuries to Property Act, such as setting fire to crops, to give wardens broader powers to act in agricultural-related crimes,” Mr. Green stated.

Regarding amendments to the Principal Act, Mr. Green said Section 12 addresses the forfeiture of property used in the commission of an offence.

The Minister noted that under the previous version of Section 12, “you could only forfeit property used for the commission of an offence, if the sentence was two years or more”.

“We’re reducing that timeframe by deleting the words ‘two years’ and replacing them with the words ‘one year’,” Mr. Green stated.

Regarding victim impact statements, the Minister informed that, for the first time, victims of praedial larceny will be able to present such statements during court proceedings.

“What [Section] 18a says is, where any person is convicted of any offence under this Act or any offence listed in the First Schedule, the court may, before the sentencing of the offender, consider a statement from the victim,” he explained.

“Our farmers have for long lobbied for this because, oftentimes, when there are going to be sentencings in these matters, our farmers want to have a say to be able to indicate the sort of damage that has been brought to bear on them,” Mr. Green added.

The Bill was also amended to empower the Minister to make regulations governing the form and manner in which victim impact statements are submitted.

The legislation will now go to the Senate for approval.

CONTACT: LATONYA LINTON

RELEASE: JIS

 

Adrian Walker Photo

Caribbean News

Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

Published

on

MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.

Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.

She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.

According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.

The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.

More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

Published

on

CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.

Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed at building stronger resilience to future disasters.

The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.

Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.

By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.

Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

Published

on

Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING