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In March 2011, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee officially launched the Stray Catching Unit at the Home Affairs Ministry’s Brickdam head office in an effort to bring issues surrounding stray animals under control. The unit consists of a 12-man team of drivers and catchers, and four trucks for transportation of the animals to the pounds.
According to a statement from the Home Affairs Ministry yesterday, the Stray Catching Units of Georgetown and Berbice conducted operations in Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, Berbice, East Coast Demerara, West Bank and West Coast Demerara during last month, impounding a total of 338 animals comprising 26 horses, 169 cows, 96 goats and 47 sheep.
The Georgetown Unit accounted for 65 cows, 70 goats and 38 sheep, a total of 173 animals;
the Berbice Unit accounted for 26 horses, 104 cows, 26 goats and nine sheep, a total of 156 animals. The Georgetown Unit impounded 2,730 animals, whilst the Berbice Unit has impounded 3,101 for the year so far.
The statement said that during the month of August, the Home Affairs Ministry received complaints of animals being involved in causing damage at President’s College; University of Guyana; and at Le Ressouvenir, on the East Coast of Demerara; at Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara, and at Klien Pouderoyen and Hague on the West Coast of Demerara.
Meanwhile, the 2011 budget had provided for the rehabilitation and construction of new pounds that would cater for the holding of animals caught. The Pounds Amendment Bill was passed in the National Assembly in April, 2010. It provides that a fee of $5,000 be paid to a stray catcher or any other person for every animal he/she takes to the pound. These include horses, ponies, cows, sheep, and goats.
The stray catchers’ initiative is intended to help address the issue of roaming animals, as strays are known to pose threats to road users. They also damage public properties, particularly drains, roads, pipes, trenches, schoolyards, and playgrounds.
In 2009, the Home Affairs Ministry built and rehabilitated 17 pounds across Guyana. (Telesha Ramnarine)
