Barbados clamps down on importation of meat, animal products

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Barbados health authorities are clamping down on the importation of meat or animal products into the country, reminding nationals that poultry and poultry products from the United Kingdom are prohibited at this time due to the Avian Influenza outbreak.

They also reminded nationals travelling for the holiday season that they must first obtain an import permit from the Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, if they are planning to bring meat or other animal products into Barbados.

“Commercially packaged cooked chicken and chicken products are allowed from the Caribbean,” a Government statement stated, listing what it considers to be food products of animal origin.

The statement said that pastries containing meat fillings, meat rolls, rotis and pizzas as well as dairy products including ice-cream, yoghurt, cheeses and eggs and egg products “must be in the original sealed commercial packaging and must not exceed 25 lbs (11kg)”.

The statement also said that individuals and places of entertainment planning to import items such as headdresses, masks or decorations which contain feathers or other animal-derived products for the holiday season or for personal use, are reminded that import permits are also required.

“Non-food animal products include but are not limited to: loose feathers, for use in costumes and craft; products made from skins, feathers, antlers, hair, hooves, horns and bones; meat scraps and treats for pets,” the statement added.

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Barbados clamps down on importation of meat, animal products

Man reports dog to police. Said he was bitten 18 times by the animal

DEON P GREEN, STAR Writer

A St Thomas man who killed a dog after the dog bit him, was freed of cruelty to the animal in the Morant Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court recently.

Richard Reid, 40, from Golden Grove, was allowed to go after the court heard that he acted in self defence when the animal attacked him first and bit him. The dog had bitten Reid on numerous occasions, the court heard.

Reid revealed to the court that he was on his way to work when he was attacked by the dog.

He said the dog had bitten him some 18 times as he walked on the road. He said he had even been to work late on several occasions because of the dog and was even told to leave work and seek medical attention after the dog had bitten him on one occasion.

problems

In his defence, he told the court that prior to him killing the dog, he had reported his problems with the animal to the Golden Grove Police Station.

He said when he complained to the lawmen at the station about the attack, one told him that duppy was on him, which is why the dog kept attacking him. He said nothing was done to address his concerns.

He said on the fatal day, he was on his way to work when he was attacked again by the dog. He used a stone to hit the animal. The dog later died of the injury caused by the stone.

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Man reports dog to police. Said he was bitten 18 times by the animal

Ministry to implement animal tagging system

Saturday, September 27, 2014 | 9:07 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Agriculture will go ahead with plans of the late Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke to have animals – including pigs, sheep and goats – tagged under the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS).

Chief Technical Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dervan Spence said that while much attention has been placed on the tagging of cattle as part of efforts to combat praedial larceny, all animals will eventually be included in the system.

He was addressing pig farmers and other stakeholders at the 12th annual general meeting of the Jamaica Pig Farmers Association (JPFA), at the Golf View hotel in Mandeville, on September 25.

Spence said the animal tags are now on the island and the ministry is in the process of increasing its stakeholder sensitisation and public education sessions, to ensure the highest level of understanding and cooperation as the programme is implemented.

He pointed out that in relation to pigs, the computer software used for cattle tracking will be adapted to support the system to trace and monitor pigs from the farm to processing, packaging and export.

The Chief Technical Director also informed that while the national animal tagging system is expected to have the spin-off effect of aiding the Government’s praedial larceny efforts, the system is primarily aimed at addressing animal health, identification and traceability.

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Ministry to implement animal tagging system

Clarendon animal farmer found dead

The body of a livestock farmer was found early yesterday morning in Ebony Park, Clarendon, with his head bashed in.

Dead is 53 year-old Aston Rodgers from Gravel Hill district in the parish.

Residents say that Rodgers, who is the owner of close to 30 cows, went to the fields with his cows but did not return.

“He went to Ebony Park to field out his cows yesterday [Wednesday]. Around 100 of us went to look for him, and then the police came and joined us around 12 a.m. We wake up early this morning [yesterday] to hit back the bush, and we find him under a mango tree with his head mash up,” said a resident from the Ebony Park community.

He also pointed out that only five cows were spotted and the rest missing.

The Four Parts Police Station has confirmed that Rodgers was found dead.

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Clarendon animal farmer found dead