Gov’t steps up fight against praedial larceny
by Edmond Campbell/Senior Parliamentary Reporter · The GleanerWith the agricultural sector suffering an estimated $14-billion loss annually, due to praedial larceny, the Government is taking steps to recruit 300 wardens to tackle the scourge.
The first recruitment drive for 100 wardens took place on Tuesday at the Godfrey Stewart High School in Westmoreland, according to Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Floyd Green.
In a statement to Parliament on Tuesday, Green said the first batch of 100 agricultural wardens would begin their training in January next year.
He said the wardens, who are being recruited as police personnel, would undergo extensive training such as fundamentals of police duties and procedures, firearm training, defensive tactics and drills, community-based policing, evidence recording, court preparation, target hardening, among other areas.
Green told his parliamentary colleagues that the Jamaica Constabulary Force would embark on a three-year programme to recruit 300 wardens to be placed in praedial larceny hotspots across the island.
Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox
Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.
The next recruitment exercise is scheduled for the Police Area 4 headquarters, Harman Barracks Complex on Deanery Road in Kingston on November 9 at 8 a.m.
Green said other recruitment drives are being planned islandwide.
It will cost the Government $1.8 billion to carry out the training exercise over the three years with $390 million being expended in the first year.
The agriculture minister said the programme is projected to result in increased enforcement actions against perpetrators, improving detection, prosecution, and deterrent rates, enhanced surveillance, patrols, and community awareness and reducing economic losses sustained by farmers because of praedial larceny.
“This will further result in increased agricultural productivity and profitability in the sector, ensuring food security and economic stability,” Green said.
In 2023, Parliament amended the Agriculture Produce Act by increasing the penalties for praedial larceny related crime. The penalty jumped from a maximum fine of $250,000 to $3 million with jail time moving from a maximum of six months to three years.