Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Roaming cattle a menace to Grove/Diamond residents
– blamed for accidents, damage to property
It’s been touted as a future township, but the New Grove/Diamond Housing Scheme continues to be overrun by cows, horses, pigs, goats and other animals, much to the annoyance of its residents.
And the question of who is responsible for ridding the community of the roaming livestock remains unanswered by Government officials, the Grove/Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council and the police.
Is anyone reading this sign?
Residents have complained that the animals are not only a nuisance, but also a danger to life and limb.
According to residents, drivers and other commuters often have to maneuver around cows and horses that block the main road to the scheme.
The danger is particularly acute at night on the poorly-lit road and many drivers have had their vehicles damaged by the wandering cattle.
Kaieteur News was told that a motorcyclist lost his life some years ago when he crashed headlong into a cow.
Last month, the occupants of a car were lucky to escape unharmed after the car they were in crashed into a cow.
However, the vehicle sustained extensive damage.
One resident recounted that he almost drove off the same road one night when a horse blocked his path. He was forced to crash into the horse, which ended up on the bonnet and smashing his windscreen.
He never located the owner of the horse and was forced to foot the bill for the damage to his vehicle.
He also complained that stray cattle often damage the pipes in his yard, eat the plants in his kitchen garden, and even copulate in his patio, while also defecating there.
Residents, particularly those with unfenced properties, complained that they are unable to cultivate kitchen gardens because of the presence of the stray animals.
Pigs can also be seen rummaging in a garbage heap in the Grove New Scheme.
Some residents allege that a Kitty resident who grazes a large, unsupervised herd in the community is the main culprit.
Horses roaming on the main road to Grove/Diamond schemes
But Kaieteur News received conflicting answers when attempting to identify the authorities responsible for ridding the community of the animals.
An official of the Grove/ Diamond NDC said that the NDC can do nothing about the roaming animals. He said that it all lies in the hands of several Ministries of the Government.
But an official for one of the Ministries identified insisted that the NDC is responsible for the management of the animals in the area.
According to the amended Pounds Act, owners of stray animals must pay a minimum $10,000 penalty or maximum $20,000.
The bill also allows any animals found to be straying on any public place or land to be seized and impounded.
A new section provides for the destruction of pigs found on private premises or private lands after notice is given to the owners and the police. The carcass of the pig has to be handed over to the owner.
Cows pull refuse from this garbage container
In April of this year, $16M was budgeted to rehabilitate the pounds.
It is unclear whether any of the money was allocated to the Grove/Diamond NDC.
At present, the communities have no pound. The few animals that are seized are placed in the Diamond Police Station Compound.
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