Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 25, 2006: Two of the public pounds are open for business and the third will begin operations in the near future.
This is according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Consumer Affairs Dr. Hermia Morton Anthony.
During a St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service interview, she explained that there was a need to reactivate the pounds because the number of stray animals had increased in recent times. As such, the pound at Buckleys had been the first to reopen and was followed by the one at Mansions. She said that work on the infrastructure of the pound in Bourkes, Sandy Point was still in progress.
Dr. Morton-Anthony also noted that the legislation was being revised particularly when it came to the matter of pound fees. She described them as nominal and noted that the law was being amended. The permanent secretary of agriculture stated that due to the urgency of the stray animal matter, the Ministry of Agriculture felt it necessary to reactivate the pounds prior to the passing of the new amendments.
She explained that this should occur within the next month or so and it is then that the new schedule of fees would be officially released. She said the new fees should ensure that the auction starting amount is not lower than the minimum recovery fee as is the case with the present legislation.
Additionally, Dr. Morton-Anthony said that the legislation dictates that once an animal is impounded the owner has to be informed, whether personally or by public announcement, in order for the animal to be claimed. As such, announcements have been made on ZIZ Radio and other local media.
The agriculture permanent secretary encouraged owners to keep their animals tied and to be each other's brother's and sister's keeper suggesting that others should be treated as one would like to be treated. She explained that incidents caused by stray animals can range from fences being trampled, and vehicles being damaged to crops being eaten.
Permanent Secretary Morton-Anthony said that such incidents negatively affect residents individually and in general because the country benefits when farmers crops grow and they receive the best possible yield. She stated that the department of agriculture will do what is necessary to support the farmers even if it meant impounding stray animals. She thus encouraged livestock owners as well as dog owners, to keep their animals contained.
