Forestry Division Commences Training for 28 New Game Wardens
Game Wardens participate in a training session at the Caroni Bird Sanctuary.
On Friday July 16th, the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), commenced a theoretical and practical training exercise for some twenty-eight (28), newly recruited Game Wardens (Game Warden I). The three-week training and orientation sessions focusses on the key areas of the Conservation of Wildlife Act; Forest Act and Sawmill Act; the Public Service Regulations; Accident and Emergency Training & First Aid; Introduction to Illegal Wildlife Trade; Crime Scene Processing; Wilderness Survival; Search Warrant Planning; Handling and Capture of Wildlife; Health and Safety Legislation (including workplace and Covid-19 protocols); Veterinary Services; Self-Defense Training; the Forest Act and Offence Procedures; Interviewing and Interrogation; Case Management and Undercover Operations.
In addition, the newly installed Game Wardens will also participate in a series of field trips to various parks, wildlife and protected areas, where they would be able to identify and fully understand environmentally sensitive species, their activities and habitats.
The twenty-eight (28) Game Wardens will bolster the Ministry’s staff compliment at the Forestry Division across its six (6) Conservancies in Trinidad, including the Wildlife Section and National Parks. Their responsibilities will include- conducting mobile, boat and foot patrols in assigned areas; arresting and prosecuting offenders; securing exhibits and arranging for forensic analysis; conducting inspections of pet shops and protected animals that are kept as pets; the issuance of summons as well as the execution of educational programmes / sensitisation activities.
Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ms. Susan Shurland, reminded Game Wardens that the most important aspect of their job scope was the rule of law for which they had the ultimate responsibility to be most familiar with both as the guardians of the nation’s conservation efforts as well as the protectors of our wildlife and biodiversity. She said: “I am happy that you have been positioned in the Ministry at this very crucial time. This job will require you to be on the field a lot and it will be incumbent on you to be safe in your interactions with the external environment which can be quite harsh having regard to the many challenges associated with law enforcement. We depend on our wildlife for the sustenance of our ecosystem and so the quality of your performance will determine the extent to which this precious resource can be safeguarded.” Ms. Shurland also shared with the new employees, the value of: fostering healthy interpersonal relationships; diplomacy and; accountability, the latter of which she said was analogous to honesty, integrity and sound leadership.
Similarly, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ms. Coomarie Goolabsingh, shared with the Game Warden I’s, her own expectations of them which was, quite simply, that they conduct themselves in such a manner so as to not bring the Civil Service into disrepute (Civil Service Regulation 134). To this end, she stressed on the need for them to act within the scope of their respective parameters at all times and where uncertain, to seek the guidance / instruction of the relevant supervisors / reporting officers, before taking action.
In welcoming the new Game Wardens, Conservator of Forests and Chief Game Warden, Mr. Denny Dipchansingh, lauded the efforts of MALF’s Acting Permanent Secretary (Shurland) and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Goolabsingh), whom he said had been working assiduously behind the scenes, to secure the appointments of these officers which he cited as both an unprecedented feat and as something which has no doubt, boosted the overall morale of the Forestry Division. “An entire cadre of Game Wardens has been appointed for the very first time in the Ministry and that means a lot to us at the Forestry Division”, he said.
Mr. Dipchansingh advised the new Game Wardens of their responsibilities as law enforcement officers and in particular, of their need to: practice full disclosure; have integrity and; be professional in their dealings with the public.
The training exercise concludes on Friday 6th August, 2021.
Man charged with the larceny of 100 live ducks valued at $10,000
After months of intelligence gathering and investigations, a resident of Thick Village in Siparia, was detained on Friday 9th July, 2021, by members of the Praedial Larceny Squad (Southern Division), in relation to the larceny of 100 live ducks valued at some $10,000. The ducks were stolen from a duck farm at Seebalack Branch Trace, Rochard Road, Barrackpore between 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday 26th May, 2021 and 7:00 a.m. on Thursday 27th May, 2021.
The 37-year old suspect, who was later charged on Sunday 11th July, 2021 and appeared before Magistrate Nazim Khan of the Princes Town Magistrates 2nd Court Court on Monday 12th July, 2021, pleaded not guilty and was placed on bail with surety at $30,000.00.
Another person of interest in the matter was also interviewed however, upon enquiries, it was found that there was not sufficient evidence to mount a charge for the offence of Larceny Livestock and so, he was discharged in good faith.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries commends the hard work of its Praedial Larceny Squad (Southern Division) officers, for their dedication and resilience in pursuing this matter in the interests of the farming community.
Notice of Change Under the Tenth Schedule Regulations 28
Animal (Diseases, Importation, Health and Welfare) Act
Please be informed that THE ANIMAL (DISEASES AND IMPORTATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL, now the ANIMAL (DISEASES, IMPORTATION, HEALTH AND WELFARE) ACT, takes effect on Tuesday June 1st 2021, after being Proclaimed by Her Excellency, Paula Mae Weeks, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to bring the new provisions into law.
As a result of the new Act, the following will take effect under the TENTH SCHEDULE Regulation 28:
- Inspection Fees (Payable to the Comptroller of Customs and Excise):
(a) For every Horse or Mare – $20.00
(b) For every Donkey, Cattle or Mule – $10.00
(c) For every Goat, Pig or Sheep -$5.00 per animal or $50.00 per consignment whichever is the lesser;
(d) For every Dog, Cat or other animal other than those provided for in paragraphs (a) to (c) $10.00
- Overtime Fees (Payable to the Inspector):
(d) Mondays to Fridays: —
(i) between 4.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. – $800.00 per consignment;
(ii) between 10.00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. – $1000.00 per consignment;
(e) On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays – $1000.00 per consignment.
- Import Permit Fees (Payable to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to which Agriculture has been assigned):
(a) Live Animals – $100.00
(b) Carcasses and animal products imported under Regulations 18, 20 and 21 for commercial use – $100.00
- Export Permit Fees (Payable to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to which Agriculture has been assigned):
(a) Export Permit – $50.00
(b) Endorsement – $50.00
- Permit Re-issue Fee (payable to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to which Agriculture has been assigned):
(a) Re-issue of a Permit – $150.00
Rambharat: Food Basket Distribution Fair, Above Board
May 19, 2021 — Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Clarence Rambharat on Wednesday described as “pathetic” allegations of bias and unfairness in the government’s covid-relief food basket initiative by the Opposition United National Congress (UNC).
“I wish to say that any allegations of impropriety are without basis and totally unsupported by the facts,” Minister Rambharat said. “The facts will show that during a May 10 press conference hosted by the Honourable Minister of Finance, the government extended the food basket programme until July, and possibly the end of September, effectively doubling the number of families who would benefit. The facts will also show that of the initial allotment of 25,000 relief packages, roughly 52 percent have been distributed to UNC constituencies as of today—52 percent.”
According to distribution data supplied by the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO), 13 out of 19 UNC MPs had already received packages for more than 300 families in each of their constituencies by May 19, just two weeks after the programme was announced. They include Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram who has so far collected more than 400 food packages based on a list of 400 names he originally submitted to NAMDEVCO, and Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein who received 200 packages precisely because his original list had 200 names.
When disaggregated, the data also show that some 12,000 families across all 41 constituencies had received food packages by late Wednesday, with another 735 packages going to a number of NGOs for distribution.
“It is regrettable that I have to break out the numbers to prove which constituency got what, Minister Rambharat said. “But the UNC is once again engaged in cheap politics at a time when the entire country is hurting.”
While the pandemic continues to impact the local and global economy, Minister Rambharat is assuring the country that the government remains committed to providing for all citizens across all constituencies who need support under the food relief programme.
Ten (10) farmers benefit from MALF’s beekeeping training course in Ecclesville
‘Introduction to Beekeeping’ training course at the Rio Claro Demonstration Station in Ecclesville.
Over the last five (5) months, ten (10) farmers from across four (4) counties in Trinidad, received training in introductory beekeeping from staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries’ Rio Claro Demonstration Station (RCDS) in Ecclesville. The RCDS, which places a lot of emphasis on apiculture, maintains of an apiary with the objective of providing practical training in beekeeping as part of the Nariva/Mayaro County’s Programme of Work for extension services.
The training took place between January and May 2021 and was facilitated by Agricultural Assistant II (Ag.), Mr. Jeremy Ramdass and Apiarist, Mr. Dudnath Durga. It spanned a total of four (4) sessions which covered the following topics: registration of apiaries and other component legislation; site selection; equipment and personal protective equipment; apiary management; nuclei production; major pests and diseases affecting bees; feeding and foraging of bees in addition to hive, box and frame construction.
Concurrent to this training was the RCDS’s production of start-up hives (nuclei), seven (7) of which were sold to beekeepers during the period May 2020 – May 2021. A nuclei, which consists of a queen bee, workers and drone bees, honey, pollen, sealed and unsealed brood, has a production time of approximately three (3) months but may take longer depending on weather conditions.
MALF’s Nariva / Mayaro Agricultural Office distributes 170 food hampers in 12 months
Sample image of the “Green Hamper” – a food distribution initiative of the Nariva / Mayaro Agricultural Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries.
Between May 2020 and May 2021, staff of the Nariva / Mayaro Agricultural Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, would have distributed some 170 food hampers to needy families throughout the County. Such was the revelation of Agricultural Officer for the Nariva / Mayaro County, Ms. Florencia Beckles-Gangaram, as she spoke of her staff’s “Green Hamper” initiative which commenced at a time when the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, had given rise to mitigation strategies, particularly as it related to the provision of basic food supplies to those most in need.
Ms. Gangaram said that at the start of the initiative, recipient-families were identified by 4H Voluntary Leaders of the Nariva / Mayaro County, who relayed the plight of some parents who were struggling to provide food for their children. In recent times she added, charitable organisations (namely, Boos Masjid) and members of staff have assisted in the identification of some of these families, whose identities are kept in the strictest of confidence, given the inconspicuous nature of hamper delivery.
According to Ms. Gangaram, the food crops which comprise the hampers, were produced at the Rio Claro Demonstration Station (RCDS) as part of the County’s annual Programme of Work, which catered for the repurposing of agricultural plots (due to a reduction of scheduled programmes in light of the pandemic) in support of the “Green Hamper” initiative. Such repurposing she added, also acheived the objective of providing hands-on training for both staff and farmers in the sphere of crop production.
The hampers, which are co-ordinated by Agricultural Assistant III, Ms. Ria Balgobin with assistance from the daily rated staff of the County’s RCDS, contain the following: orange, portugal, pineapple, banana, plaintain, moko, cabbage, patchoi, lettuce, pumpkin, cucumber, dasheen bush, cassava, pimento, pigeon peas, celery, chive, shadon beni, sorrel, eddoes, ochro, melongene, string beans, hot pepper and corn. Also included in these are commodities produced in the private home gardens of RCDS’s staff.
NAMDEVCO begins Food Basket Distribution Drive
7th May, 2021: Earlier today, the National Agricultural and Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) began the distribution of food baskets to needy communities throughout the country. This initiative comes following an announcement by the Prime Minister, The Honourable, Dr. Keith Rowley on Monday 3rd May, 2021.
The first set of local veggie, fruit packages were delivered to eight (8) Constituencies by NAMDEVCO to 2,000 families. Each of the recipients received three (3) NAMDEVCO packages containing sweet potato, dasheen, cassava, plantain, squash, pineapple, citrus, pawpaw, cucumbers, bodi, sweet pepper, hot pepper and tomatoes. Additionally, they also receivedpackage with two (2) locally processed chickens.
In the coming weeks approximately 25,000 families in all forty-one (41) constituencies are expected to receive these NAMDEVCO food packages.
Poodai Lagoon in Penal.
Ministry Monitoring Heavy Rainfall in Farming Communities
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries is currently monitoring the recent impact of heavy rainfall in the farming communities across the country. With the persistent rainfall since around 2 am this morning, areas such as Penal/Debe and other Southern Districts are being constantly monitored by Mr. David Ram, Ag. Director and his team at the Regional Administration South (RAS).
At present, the Ministry can report that there have been no reports of flooding up to this point and while the watercourses are filled, they are not overflowing. There have been reports though, that some farms in low lying areas, have been accumulating water in their respective drainage.
A point to note is that the Poodai Lagoon in Penal, the same area which was affected by flooding in March 2021, has already accumulated water with the persistent rainfall.
The Agriculture Ministry will continue to liaise with the Disaster Management Units of the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government and will continue to monitor the ongoing situation. We stand ready to provide the necessary assistance to the various communities should the need arise.
