JAS condemns the murder of farmers
KINGSTON, Jamaica — President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Norman Grant is condemning the killing of two farmers and further the stealing of their goats on Thursday evening in Hayes, Clarendon.
Fifty-five-year-old Vincent Hudson, otherwise called ‘Renard’ of Bog district, and Altimond Harrison, 74, of Raymonds district, both form the parish were found in bushes with their throats slashed and chop wounds to sections of their bodies.
JAS, in a release today, said the murders bring into sharp focus the need for the government to expedite the process of amending the Agricultural Produce Act, and to increase the fine from $250,000 to $5 million.
“There is also an urgent need to review the Trespass Act as well and to bring all these acts within the framework of the Proceeds of Crime Act where convicted farm terrorists can have their assets seized by the state and the assets disposed of and used to set up a victim compensation fund to support these Praedial Larceny victims,” said Grant, adding that the act usually costs the agricultural sector and country $6 billion annually.
With this, the JAS is also calling on the police for a speedy investigation that will bring the perpetrators of this “wicked” act to justice.