Dear Editor
THE Mayor and City Council continues to express its concern on the increasing number of animals (horses, cows and pigs) roaming the streets of Georgetown. This is observed particularly in the southern section of the city, where citizens are rearing cows, horses and pigs without the requisite accommodation and sanitary facilities to manage those animals.
Horses are left to stray about on busy roadways, posing not only a hazard to vehicular traffic, but also causing all kinds of public health problems, including facilitating a stench nuisance from their dung, flies and other vermins.
Cows are left to graze on city parapets and, sometimes, roam onto the private properties of neighbours- a situation that is highly unacceptable in these modern times.
Under the law:
“287. A council may prohibit, restrict or regulate the keeping or movement of animals in any part of its council area.
288. (1) A council may establish, erect, maintain and control pounds.
(2) A council pound shall be under the control and superintendence of the council.
(3) There shall be for each council pound a pound-keeper and such deputy or assistant pound-keeper as the council may consider necessary for the efficient control of the pound
289. Any animal to which this section applies which strays on private property may be detained and taken by the owner or occupier of such property, or by any person authorised in writing by such owner or occupier, to a council pound, and for so doing he shall receive from the pound-keeper such sum by way of reward as may be prescribed by by-laws of the council.
290. Any animal to which this section applies which strays on any public road, council road, drainage work vested in the council or other public place may be taken by any member of the Police Force or of a town or rural constabulary, any local government officer or by any authorised in writing by the clerk of the council to a council pound.”
Also, under that same law, at section 294:
(1) “Any impounded animal which is not redeemed within one week may be sold.
(2) The pound-keeper shall publish a notice of sale upon a board placed in a conspicuous position near the council pound of all impounded animals which have not been redeemed within a week of impounding for a period of not less than seven days before the sale.”
The council is contemplating recommencing this aspect of its responsibility — impounding of animals found straying in the streets of Georgetown. The Chief Constable has been advised to re-establish pounds in the city to address this growing and worrying problem.
In addition, residents of local communities continue to complain to the council’s Public Health Department about the stench and the inconvenience they must suffer as a result of those individuals who are rearing animals in the capital city. A few months ago, council at one of the its Statutory Meetings discussed a plan to register and organise individuals, who are operating horse-drawn carts in the city and to secure space outside of the city limits, to allow them to operate without interfering with the integrity of the city. That plan will be further discussed at a public health meeting fixed for early July, 2017.
Regards
Debra Lewis
Public Relations Officer
Mayor and City Council