St. Lucia’s road safety issues caused by unattended animals may soon be a thing of the past. That is the message from Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir. The minister insist that a new approach must be adopted if the country must realize progress in this area.
Jawahir, who is seemingly integrally involved in the process, says the government sees the safety hazard caused by loose animals as an extremely serious issue, one that has life and death connotations attached.
The agriculture minister was also astonished that the issue had been allowed to fester for so long, effectively ‘kicking the can down the road,’ a problem that has persisted for decades.
After consistent effort to relocate loose cattle particularly from the Choc area, Jawahir says there is a resurfacing of the issue, severely burdening an already stretched system. “There was already a plan in motion to remove the cattle or to relocate them. We found it was taking too long so we had to step in because there were accidents happening and we did not want any loss of life and you would understand that is priority for the government.”
Jawahir says the process of relocation included the participation of the farmers in question. “When the ministry and the ministry’s team from vet services came to Choc they engaged with some farmers because the plan was to remove the cattle that was loose. We relocated every single head of cattle that was loose.”
The minister highlighted that it was not the ministry’s responsibility to provide land for farmers to house the animals, however the need for assistance was dire and the threat on the roads were grave, hence the ministry’s efforts to temporarily remedy the situation.
The minister has now made it clear that the new thrust will be on confiscating and removing the animals permanently which is provided for under the laws of St. Lucia.
There have been numerous accidents around the island with a number of them resulting in fatalities.