Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir says Saint Lucia’s veterinary authorities followed the required procedures before two horses transported to Grenada were euthanised after testing positive for Babesia spp., the parasite that causes Equine Piroplasmosis.
The incident, which occurred after the animals arrived in Grenada on May 29, has sparked debate among regional veterinary experts and animal welfare advocates over the handling of the case.
According to earlier reports, the two horses, owned by Rohan Smith of Bonanza Stables, were pregnant. However, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development said veterinary officers who examined the animals before export found that neither horse appeared to be pregnant during the clinical inspection.
According to reports, Grenadian authorities ordered the destruction of the two horses shortly after their arrival after Saint Lucia’s laboratory tests had confirmed the presence of Babesia spp. before the animals left the island.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has said Saint Lucia’s veterinary authorities had no record of issuing an export permit for the animals and described their movement as an offence under the laws of both countries.
Veterinarian Dr Kenrith Carter has publicly questioned whether appropriate quarantine, treatment and expert consultation options were fully explored before the decision to euthanise the horses was made.
Former Saint Lucia Chief Veterinary Officer Dr George Joseph has also argued that euthanasia was unnecessary, noting that Equine Piroplasmosis is not transmissible to humans and that treatment protocols exist in countries where the disease is present.
Grenada’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Kimond Cummings, has defended the decision, saying it was necessary to protect the country’s animal health and prevent a biosecurity risk.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Jawahir said Saint Lucia’s veterinary officials acted in accordance with established procedures after the owner indicated he intended to transport the horses to Grenada.
“We learnt that a gentleman wanted to get his pets, his horses, back to Grenada. There is no law that prevents him from doing that, but for him to enter the other country, he needs that certification, that clearance that says that the animals do not have any parasites,” Jawahir said.
She explained that veterinary officers initially found the horses to be in good physical condition, but subsequent laboratory testing detected the parasite.
“Our vet offices were contacted. On the surface, you could not see any parasites. The horses looked like they were in good condition. But upon investigation and testing, we realised that they hold certain parasites.”
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development on Friday, Chief Veterinary Officer in the Veterinary and Livestock Services Division, Dr Sharmine Melville-Edwin, outlined a detailed timeline of the events.
According to Dr Melville-Edwin, veterinary officers examined the two horses on May 22 in keeping with Grenada’s import requirements. During the inspection, the animals were treated for internal and external parasites, blood samples were collected for laboratory testing, and neither horse showed signs of infectious or contagious disease.
Laboratory results received on May 26 confirmed the presence of Babesia spp. in both animals, and the exporter was immediately notified, the ministry said.
Dr Melville-Edwin added that Saint Lucia’s Chief Veterinary Officer contacted Grenada’s Chief Veterinary Officer to determine whether the horses could be admitted for quarantine and treatment. Grenada’s Veterinary Authority advised that the animals would not be allowed entry and instead recommended that they undergo treatment and repeat testing in Saint Lucia before any future export attempt.
Dr Melville-Edwin said veterinary authorities in both Saint Lucia and Grenada informed the exporter that the horses would not be accepted into Grenada and that no import permit had been issued by Grenada.
Despite those warnings, the ministry said veterinary officials later learned the horses were being transported to Vieux Fort for export. When the chief veterinary officer contacted the local transporter, he was informed that the animals had already been loaded onto the vessel.
Jawahir said Saint Lucia’s authorities had no legal basis to prevent the horses from leaving the island.
“We do not have any laws that would prevent him from doing that because anyone can take their pets and go back to their country with them. It is what comes in that we are able to regulate and act upon based on the law,” she said.
“And so we informed Grenada of what we discovered; we asked them if they would take in the animals on his behalf; they said no. We informed the gentleman; he said he would still go across with his pets anyway.”
The minister said the department later learned the horses had been euthanised after arriving in Grenada.
“And so that is where all the conversation came about from Saint Lucia’s end. From start to finish, we operated within the law, but any further details we do not have, because we have since learned that the individual has been charged, and so it is now a matter with the police of Grenada,” Jawahir said.
The ministry also noted that Equine Piroplasmosis affects horses, donkeys, mules and zebras, is spread by ticks, and does not affect humans. It reminded the public that import permits are required before live animals, animal products or animal by-products may be imported into Saint Lucia under the Animal (Diseases and Importation) Act, and encouraged anyone planning to import animals to first seek guidance from the Veterinary and Livestock Services Division.
Again, animals suffer and die because of irresponsible humans!
Poor horses. You see the country has no rules. the naimals should not have left before those results. it says that security is lax and absent
The question is, why did the St Lucia authorities let the horses board the ship without clearance permit?