Children get eye-opener on crop theft

PREDIAL LARCENY was one of the top topics in this year’s Governor General Agricultural Summer Camp.This is because the children of the camp experienced the results of the crime for themselves.“One morning I was telling them about the dangers to crops such as monkeys and snails and most of all, man. The next day we were scheduled to tour a rabbit farm, but the night before the farmer had all her breeding stock stolen,” said camp co-ordinator Senator Dr Frances Chandler.Speaking during a telephone interview yesterday after the camp’s awards ceremony at Government House, Chandler said this really brought the issue of predial larceny home to the children.“We still went on the tour but it really affected the children and helped them realise the seriousness of the issue,” she said.This year, Joshua Sydney of St Paul’s Primary won the Most Diligent And Enthusiastic Camper Award, presented by Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands.Other winners included Colleen Chase of Charles F. Broome who won first place in the poster competition in age 6 to 8; Kristian Best of St David’s Primary who won Best Poster in age 9 to 13; Chemar Burnham of St Cyprian’s school who won Best Workbook in age 6 to 8; and Ashlea Edwards of Wesley Hall Junior School who won Best Workbook in age 9 to 13.The ceremony also included awards for the quiz, consolation awards and awards to camp helpers and organisers.Sir Clifford said the camp was now in its sixth year and was prompted by the fact young people were moving away from agriculture.“The purpose of this camp is to assist in heightening the image of agriculture as the practice of science in the eyes of the youth; by exposing them not only to new trends and technology in agriculture, but also to the importance of agriculture in our day to day lives.“Thankfully, the success of these agricultural camps over the last six years has proved conclusively that under proper guidance, young children do display a love for, and are very enthusiastic about, the various forms of agriculture,” the Governor General said. (CA)