The operations of the Livestock and Livestock Products Board is under review says Clarence Rambharat, the minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries. Rambharat was responding to comments made by former food production minister Devant Maharaj that the board had been closed.
In a release yesterday, Maharaj said it was brought to his attention by members of the agricultural community that the Livestock and Livestock Products Board, a statutory body under the Agriculture Ministry, had been closed with immediate effect.
Maharaj said he was highlighting “the hypocrisy” of Rambharat and Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Singh, “who in their senate contributions outlined plans of splendour and grandeur for the agro-sector but, in the same breath, have now removed the operational arm responsible for servicing the livestock industry.”
Maharaj said when he demitted office, he had a number of plans for bolstering the livestock sector and had begun putting support mechanisms in place for farmers.
“The Praedial Larceny Squad was specifically located in Carlsen Field to aid in protecting the livestock farmers of that area from bandits and thuggery,” whilst the northern branch kept a visible presence in Aripo and Wallerfield, aiding livestock farmers in those areas.
“Why remove the Praedial Larceny Squad when for the first time a dedicated farmer protection policing force had been successfully implemented as the statistics will show,” Maharaj asked. He said these measures would only ensure the demise of the livestock sector.
Rambharat said after he was sworn in, he was offered the resignation of the chairman of that board. The resignation of all the members have now been accepted, he said.
“The board is a statutory body, remains in existence, and its operations are under review.”
This in no way affected the operations of livestock farmers or the sector for whom the ministry retained responsibility, Rambharat said.
He said a new board would be appointed as soon as the review of the livestock sector was complete.
“There is no disruption to the sector as the livestock board played a very limited role.”