The chief inspector of the Royal Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)?is disappointed that officials from the Environmental Health Department have failed to remove several pigs from two substandard farms in Lucy.
Wayne Norville told the WEEKEND?NATION that after visiting the two farms in August with an environmental officer, arrangements were made for the animals to be seized and placed at the Animal Pound at the Pine, St Michael, until the farmers cleaned up their act. But he lamented that up to this day that has not occurred.
Norville presented the WEEKEND?NATION with photographic evidence of conditions at the farms and described them as “appalling”.
He explained that he was summoned to see the conditions of the farms at Mount View Drive and Harrises, St Lucy, after environmental health officers at the Maurice Byer Polyclinic had failed for several years to adequately address both situations.
Regarding the farm at Mount View, Norville explained: “I visited the farm on August 27 and I was appalled. The pigs were being kept in the worst possible conditions. Food, including bread and old potatoes, was thrown across the premises. There was no proper drainage. Some of the pigs were very thin. I am not sure what he is feeding them but there was no sign of pig feed in any of the pans.
“The water troughs were filled with algae. Some of the piglets had scour and various sizes of pigs – from piglets to adults – were in the same pen and every container that could possibly hold water had mosquito larvae.
Pointing out that the farmer was previously hospitalized for leptospirosis, Norville said he was concerned because “this man actually sells these pigs for human consumption”.
In the case of the farm at Harrises, Norville said the pig farmer was a former police officer who the health inspectors had previously taken to court for the unsanitary conditions in which he kept the farm. He said a fine was imposed back then.
“He is a hoarder,” Norville commented, pointing out that his premises were littered with junk such as old metal, containers, lumber and discarded appliances.
“Anything he finds he takes home. His situation is the same – the drainage is blocked and the well is leaking and forming a lake behind the premises. The pigs are in poor condition and every container is filled with mosquito larvae. There are flies, mosquitos and rodents”.
Norville said he had a meeting with senior officials at the Maurice Byer Polyclinic which was attended by Chief Environmental Officer Tyrone Applewhite.
“When I showed him the pictures he was appalled and he asked me what was the best solution to the problem. I explained that the first thing was that the pigs had to be removed and taken to the animal pound in the Pine. I?gave him the number and he spoke to the officer in charge of the pound who indicated that they had the space to take the animals.
“We decided to return to the premises but two weeks passed and no one contacted me. When I?finally called, I was told that they had already visited the premises and since then I have heard nothing more.”
Pointing out that residents at both locations were being affected by the conditions of the pig farms, Norville said the farmers in both situations had demonstrated that they could not properly rear the animals.
When contacted, Applewhite told the WEEKEND?NATION that he had no authority to speak to the press on those matters.
Meanwhile the farmer at Mount View revealed that he had hired a man to clean his premises.
“I?have a bad foot and a bad back and I can’t do nothing. I?got injured in an accident and I am supposed to get pay out from CLICO but I?can’t get no results from them,”?he complained.
Disclosing that he sold the pigs to butchers, the man said they were his only livelihood.
“I have 60 pigs and the inspectors told me to only keep four, but four pigs can’t do nothing for me. My water is in arrears, my light is in arrears and my phone is on soft touch. I want to get rid of the pigs but I have to wait until I get compensated by CLICO,” he cried.
The other farmer could not be reached, but upset residents said they were affected by the stench from the farm and were concerned that some of the pigs were running amok in the neighbourhood.
