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| Minister of Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries and Consumer Affairs Honourable Cedric Liburd |
Basseterre, St. Kitts (December 12, 2005): Minister of Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries and Consumer Affairs Honourable Cedric Liburd said his ministry has commenced a strategy to reduce the stray animals in the Federation.
He said that when it came to his ministry's attention that the number of stray animals was on the increase in St. Kitts and Nevis, a press release was circulated to address the issue. The newsitem informed that November 01 commenced a 15-day amnesty period after which livestock owners ran the risk of having their stray animals impounded.
Minister Liburd said that he instructed the Director of Agriculture Mr. Jerome Thomas to organize a stake-holder's meeting to come up with several solutions to the growing problem. A report was then submitted to the Minister. Recommendations included the reactivation of the public animal pounds, locations of the pounds, animal pound fees, operation costs and security.
The minister responsible for agriculture said that there would also be the revision of legislation pertaining to animal pounds.
He also emphatically encouraged livestock owners to do what was necessary to secure their animals. He added that it was important that such be done since the ministry had received complaints from vehicle owners because the animals had been causing serious accidents. This he said was a hazard particularly in the Stonefort and Canada areas.
Minister Liburd said that he approved the establishment of three pounds to be established in sites around the island. He noted that effective Monday, December 05, 2005 the pounds on St. Kitts were to be reactivated.
