Residents have long raised concerns about livestock, especially cattle, straying onto roads and highways across Saint Lucia. One frequent trouble spot is the Choc area in Castries, where wandering animals have repeatedly endangered motorists.
At Monday’s pre-cabinet press briefing, Minister for Agriculture Alfred Prospere addressed the issue in response to a question about an update on the government’s plans to mitigate the risk.
“Just this morning, I got a call from someone who was driving down from the north into Castries,” Prospere said. “I want to make the statement, and I want to make it bold, to say that the government is not responsible for ensuring that residents are safe from our roads. A farmer who is a cattle owner, who is a livestock owner, it’s his responsibility to ensure that his cattle does not move away from the pasture onto the road.
“But we know. There have been many incidents in the past, and why would someone want somebody to lose their life driving to his home because of somebody’s problem or cattle?”
Prospere revealed that the issue has been under discussion at the Cabinet level. One of the main areas of concern, he said, is Castries North, which continues to record incidents involving free-roaming livestock.
However, the minister shared progress on a potential solution.
“Just last week, we were able to identify an area of land in Vieux Fort,” he said. “We are working with the cattle owners… We had a meeting with a few of them already, and they have agreed to move their animals to the south, to make this problem a thing of the past.”
While the government is supporting a broader solution, Prospere stressed that livestock owners must take individual responsibility.
“I’m calling on all those cattle owners to find a way, find a new mechanism, to at least put a fence around your pasture to avoid those animals posing a risk to persons’ lives,” he urged.
See the problem with this country? Pandering to law breakers. Impound the damn cattle and let the owner pay to release as the law permits. Lawlessness begets lawlessness.
What are they going to do about the damage caused to motorists vehicles due to these animals just wandering into the road? The police do no follow up. They just rudely ask about the license and registration and take pictures and then you hear nothing. Who is to be held accountable for this?
SIMON HEARS –
I have been hearing about this for years and to me it is the same record spinning from the minister all the time. There are penalties to motorist if the don’ t obey the traffic and road rules to the point of being prosecuted. Why can’t the same be for cattle owners. Implement laws and failure to abide would be subjected to penalties, fines or even imprisonment.
SIMON SAYS –
It is rather unfortunate that a few stubborn cattle famers are allow to ruin the reputation of others. Most cattle farmers are good and keep their livestock where they should. I have had the experience with a stubborn cattle farmer who doesn’t control his cattle to the point where it affects others.
I understand the livestock owners should be resposible for keeping their livestock off the roads. Jowever, it most definitely is the goveenments responsibility to keep the driving public safe. The go ernment and police need to step up with action and fines to owners you allow their livestock to become risks to motorists and pedestrians.
Sorry Prospere is a good guy but here is why I refuse to lv my home to vote. Did anyone read this man nonsense? Hw can i be on the public road and it not be govt responsibility to ensure that I am safe there.? “Government is not responsible for ensuring that residents are safe from our roads.” like seriously. How can these guys not know that govt priority is to protect their citizens. Anyways I gv up.