Praedial Larceny – A Farmer’s Worst Fear!
Author : teriannAs I dream of growing heads of lettuce and rows of corn in my home garden an unwelcoming thought occurs to me. What if someone came and stole everything after all the hard work I had done?
Well that’s what many farmers face as they contemplate how many of their goods will make it to the market.
A number of my readers have stated that if this problem is not addressed, many will leave farming as this terrible practice depletes their profit. I have heard of a measure put in place by Crimestop, in which there is a special number (311) to call to report praedial larceny. I think that this is a good start as more community involvement will certainly help the farmers.
Also persons should not buy goods from those who can not certify where they obtained them. How do farmers deal with this problem? Well check out one farmer’s story in this video at www.jamaica-gleaner.com/videos. I think he really tells it as it is so thieves beware!
What other measures do you think could be put in place to prevent praedial larceny?
Teri Ann Renee Paisley (gleaner on-line writer)
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24 Responses to “Praedial Larceny – A Farmer’s Worst Fear!”
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Teri.
It seem some one is trying to have me put my idea on here so they can steal it and make money!.. I wrote a letter to the editor in which I asked for it to be published as an invitation for the Agriculture minister Dr Christopher Tufton to contact me personally.. he is the only one I will share the solution to this problem with.
but the Gleaner never published it!. so I see they some how trying to use you to suck this info out of me !.. because they know I will try to respond to this!..
The plan I have is a business and I know that if implemented. with in 5 years .. there will be no more problem with preadial larceny in Jamaica!.Its something I can guarantee!…
Hmm…Bob I am sorry to tell you this but I doubt I am being used to steal your ideas. On the other hand maybe it would be loving to share those ideas if you think it would really help your fellow Jamaicans. Just a thought!
Thank you! You often write very interesting articles. You improved my mood.
Along with praedial thieves their is also the threat from animal owners, who will deliberatlely let their animals feed on your crops. Their is this constant feeling that your stuff is not of value.
The Ministry of Agriculture must urgently address such matters.
That is another aspect I suppose that really can discourage farmers.
The matter of people animal grazing on others property with out authorization. should never allowed to happen. The government must allowed for more free access for people to import cheap fencing to protect their property. instead allowing for a monopoly on such material by a handful of businesses!…
Our system of governance in Jamaica have lots to be desired!.. corruption is so deepen in the bones of our people . so its hard for us to adopt to new principles and rules. But as I said. with the solution I have for praedial larceny.. along with education of the entire nation. with in 5 years . we should not have this problem again!.
Simple, Tufton ask Golding to add to his new bill the right to CHOP off these thieves hand, when found guilty without a doubt (my wish) now
without a doubt its not high on the list of politicians to take care of, almost 2 yrs ago in NY at the Consulate one of the attache with the group from Agriculture dare to say they cant do much about the thievery. Maybe farmers should install cameras susidize by the Govt. and a post with a gurd always on site hired by the farmer when the theif pounces shoot him in the buttocks or balls
A round of applause for your blog article.Much thanks again. Will read on…
Well Bob you can contact the Ministry by yourself this is the age or Internet you can send him an email and he will get it he may not reply but he will get it,if you think they gonna steal yor ideas. I am considering buying a Farm in Jamaica and I will protect my property and its content without violence there are way to stop the stealing , if you want to eat you can come and work and then you can have all you want to eat but you must put in some work you dont have to steal the crop , but if yo choose to steal just because you lazy then you should go to JAIL enough of this foolishness
I remember living in St Mary and my Grandfather property seperate the other by barbed wire the owner was an American Lady and her guard was my friends brother and he warned us as Children that we should not go under the wire to pick up any fruits, we were 5yrs-8 yrs we never went under that wire he had a Large rifle at the time everything seem big but as Children we listened It was instilled in us that it would be stealing even if the fruits fall and was being rotted on the ground we are not entitled to it it simply was not ours to take…WOW… I instilled the same things in my kids and if they steal from anyone there will be consequence which may involve loosing your life or doing time to losing a hand..Do they want that?
The second biggest plague afflicting Jamaica, behind the wanton murdering of Jamaicans, is the scourge of praedial larceny. This crime is one of the reasons why productivity is so low in Jamaica and the nation’s economy is in such a state.
Just imagine a hard-working farmer, using his last few dollars to invest in some field produce and/or some live stock. After months of hard work he sees his investment coming to fruition so he can start preparing for his returns and going forward with the next season’s crop. All of a sudden some lazy, good-for-nothing, grudgeful, conscienceless thief walks in to reap this poor farmer’s labour. And if this poor farmer just say anything he could end up dead!
So, who can blame these demoralized farmers when they decide to pack it up and call it a day? And this, consequently, is very destructive in terms of the country’s productive capacity.
Call me backward if you want and you can call these measures draconian if you must, but what Jamaica needs are some of those middle eastern brand of justice for these vicious thieves. These include chopping off the hand of a thief when it is proven that he is guilty. Also, a farmer should be allowed to build three fences around the perimeter of his field, the inner and outermost fences should be just regular fences for the protection of employees and innocent passers-by. But the middle fence should be electrified with deadly volts that will stop a thief in his tracks.
Also, farmers who have suffered at the hands of these criminals should be compensated. And the way to do this is to sentence the thief to hard labour, working in the field of this farmer for nothing, until all the farmer’s losses are redeemed.
There are too many thieves in Jamaica. And the country will never be better if the problem of praedial larceny is not dealt with. Not only praedial larceny, but the general dishonesty and thievery in the society where everybody wants something for nothing. This also includes theft and pilfering at the work place by employees. This does not only destroy and chase your employer out of business, but will discourage any potential investor who will be forced to go elsewhere as the word spreads far and wide that Jamaica is filled with thieves and its hopeless doing business there!
Uforatie.
with what I have pending you wont be killing any body, but it will kill their habit of stealing!. So the sooner I have a meeting with the Agriculture minister the faster this thing will be implemented so to stop those thieves!.
Hey Bob I hope that you get the chance to share your ideas with someone who can help. After all a Jamaica free from praedial larceny will benefit everyone.
Strong words Uforatie! I do think that honesty is lacking in our society. We need to teach our kids (by our example) that honesty is really the best policy!
I really enjoy the blog.Really thank you! Really Great.
Can I make a suggestion? I think youve got something good here. But what if you added a couple links to a page that backs up what youre saying? Or maybe you could give us something to look at, something that would connect what youre saying to something tangible? Just a suggestion.
There is a link in the post to watch a video on The Gleaner’s website about the topic. If you click on the link it takes you to the website.
What a whole-heap-a one hand and no hand people would be in JA if we start chopping off people hand because of PL ( praedial larceny, political larceny. Go se all dem one han politician, and of course there would be a few without no han. Yu know dem one wey cah stop teif.
Another thing is they should start using HAARD LABOR as punishment follow the ARIZONA sherrif crime fighting policy make them work like the old chain GANG on anyones FARM that they STEAL from and if they refuse cut off their Thumb on their dominant hand it has to start somewhere. THEY WILLGET THE POINT if this is too drastic then so be it
Usually I don’t comment, I’m a lurker, but this time I had just to say thanks!
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays..
Thanks again for the blog.Much thanks again. Really Great.
This is one awesome article. Want more.
I really like this article, I look forward to the other