Praedial larceny lament Manager of Friendship Estate, Patrick Bethell (right) has decried the impact of praedial larceny on agriculture, after suffering at the hands of thieves once more. Here, he inspects one of the uprooted cassava plants along with CEO of the Barbados Agricultural Society, James Paul. Both want the police to do more about the theft of crops. (CA) - Nation Newspaper
Longstanding farmer Patrick Bethell has come under some public criticism in recent days because of his reported decision to plough his cassava crop back into the soil. Those oppose to his action cite the fact that to destroy food in the prevailing times of economic hardship represents an insensitivity on the part of Mr. Bethell. We have not heard the farmer’s side of this story but we know is that this is a man whose love for agriculture CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be questioned. From this distance the BU family has concluded that Mr. Bethell’s action clearly represents a frustration which is felt by other farmers in Barbados.
We understand that Mr. Bethell has been a farmer for nigh on 40 years. In our books that makes him exempt from the vitriolic episodes which have been allowed to entertained on our national airwaves.
It is easy for the majority of Barbadians who look down their noses at the farming community to spout hot air. We encourage Barbadians to try to focus dispassionately on the solutions which are required by the agricultural sector for sometime now. The government cannot be serious about promoting a strategy of food security and we have the problem of praedial larceny allowed to run unchecked. Barbados is a small place and the inability to crackdown on this problem over the years represent a lack of will on the part of the stakeholders. It makes us question who might be the players supporting this illegal activity. The quantities of produce which has been reported to be stolen over the years leads the BU family to conclude that some significant players maybe involved. Remember that if a buyer of a commodity has knowledge that it maybe stolen they are are complicit in the crime.
We disagree though with the call by Mr. Bethell that the police should do more. While policing is an important strategy to try to curb praedial larceny it is not the sustainable approach. The Prime Minister announced in his first budget that, or was it on another occasion, the government would provide an open space for farmers to sell produce. We believe that by bringing people in a central market to sell produce, maybe on weekends, it would provide the opportunity to quietly investigate the scourge of praedial larceny. If the government is serious about reviving the farming industry given its commitment to transforming the negative culture, the government needs to act NOW. We say now because if we are to judge by Mr. Bethell’s recent action, we may have arrived at the tipping point represented by a long time committed agriculturalist threatening to leave the profession.
We have supported Minister of Agriculture Haynesley Benn in previous blogs and we continue do so, we hope he does not disappoint us.
78 responses so far ↓
The People's Democratic Congress // October 11, 2008 at 8:13 AM
It is DLP and BLP Governments over the years – including this present one – that have played a very disgraceful role in the long term decline of the Agricultural sector in Barbados.
For example, both DLP and BLP Governments have – on too many occasions in the past – given permisssion to too many local and foreign land developers to convert huge swaths of our fertile agricultural lands into golf courses, into upscale and non-upscale residential developments and other such non-agricultural projects.
Indeed, such a backward governmental attitude and approach to what is still a very crucially important national productive sector is aggravated by the fact that these governments have had some of the most miserable and decrepit land use policies that could ever have been thought of for a very land scarce country like Barbados. Imagine DLP and BLP Governments stupidly allowing many of our agricultural lands to be sold to foreigners at a time when our import bill for food and beverages for local consumption almost doubled from BDS $ 225 million in 1991, to BDS $ 439 milion in 2006 ( Annual Statistical Digest 2007 of the Central Bank of Barbados). What kind of incentive is that therefore for our local food producers? What?
What have also served to help devastate much of our local agricultural industry have been the very backward and regressive fiscal and monetary policies of all DLP and BLP Governments since independence. Imagine that the VAT was put in place in 1997, and that that has helped to make sure that the overall money costs of inputs to the production of Agricultural commodities is very high!!
Thus, while it is true that many generations of younger people in Barbados have NOT been taking to agriculture like earlier generations would have been; that many damaging global trading regimes (e.g. WTO rules and systems that have promoted international “price” competition that has, to some extent, been helping make locally produced sugar for the external market uncompetitive on the international markets ( receipts from sugar exports have consistently been falling , e.g from BDS $ 53 million in 1991, to BDS $ 39 million in 2006 – Annual Statistical Digest 2007 Central Bank of Barbados) have also been impacting on certain decisions of local food farmers and agriculturalists to give up on agriculture, and while it is true that praedial larceny has also impacted on decisions of some local food farmers and agriculturalists to give up on local agriculture, the fact is that agriculture in Barbados can be resuscitated and revived with the right governmental leadership put in place and therefrom the right policies and standards put in place in Barbados. As such, the election of a future PDC Government shall certainly make sure that at least seven (9) things are done to make sure that the Agricultural Sector is restored to its former pre-eminience and significance as a top productive sector in Barbados -
1) The Abolition of Taxation in Barbados;
2) The Abolition of Interest Rates in Barbados;
3) Making sure that Imports of Goods and Services into Barbados – including food imports – are Zero-”priced” at all points of entry;
4) Making sure that Exports of Goods and Services from Barbados – including Agricultural commodities – are paid for in local currency/”prices”;
5) Making sure that Institutional Loans for Productive purposes are made Non-Repayable in Barbados;
6) Making sure that No Foreigners “own” Barbadian Lands – however they would be able to lease such on a relatively short term basis – maximum 10 – 15 years;
7) Making sure that ONLY rab lands are to be used for non-agricultural development purposes – and that NONE of our Agricultural lands are to be converted into non-Agricultural projects;
8) Making sure ANY lands that are now out of agriculture and that have been designated as agricultural lands for the last 100 years or so and that can again be used for agricultural purposes, that these lands WILL BE HELPED put back into agricultural use, using whatever means and approaches available at the country’s disposal; and,
9) Making sure that the evil scourge of Praedial Larceny is systematically wiped from this social landscape of this country by way of education, severe punishment, and technology like GPS technology,
PDC
ROK // October 11, 2008 at 8:29 AM
This shows up the weakness of the Barbados Police force when it comes to investigating. So many questions to be asked.
Why are the police not investigating if they have the skills? Why is it that with all the incidences of preadial larceny, not one single perpetrator been brought to justice? Should we believe that with so many reported cases, the police cannot find one single clue?
With all the supermarkets out there and all the vendors who know one another’s business, nobody has seen people with suprising amounts of cassava as in this case? Anybody who stealing in such quantities must be selling them somewhere?
It seems to me that the Police are not lifting one finger to do anything about preadial larceny and that reports are not taken seriously. If it is that the Police are saying that it is a futile exercise because they can’t get finger prints, then that is really poor.
Just Waiting // October 11, 2008 at 9:17 AM
Where is the evidence? Cassava don’t get up from out of the ground and fly into space.
If the cassava is not being sold on the streets then it is being sold in the supermarkets, if not in the supermarkets then check the bakeries.
Maybe it is being used to offset high feed prices.
Unless the police catches the theives red-handed they can do little without good information.
Someone somewhere knows something.
Farming is a business and should be treated as such by those involve in agriculture. Other business have to protect they investment by whatever means, farmers should be no different.
All it takes is for the word to get out that something bad will happen if you enter my fields without permission and then making sure that it does.
David // October 11, 2008 at 9:34 AM
@ROK
When the police arrest a robber does it stop the ‘tieffin’?
What about murderers?
We agree as in the case with domestic disputes the Police show a lousy attitude to praedial larceny but the solution calls for more.
The scout // October 11, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I know the frustration that Mr Bethell has gone through anmd is still going through. I know this gentleman, he’s a person that will give anyone in need, It is unfortunate that such a gentle perdon could be victimised like this. I too have been the victim of praedial larceny. What is frustrating is that, in my case, I suspect the criminals but when I report the matter it is dealt with two days or so after and by then the produce is distributed. plant crops isn’t just sticking seedlings in a ground and then harvesting. Preparing the land, planting, fertilising and caring for the crop during the growing period is expensive. Yes, the gross price sometime might sound good but when these things are taken into consideration, when you do a debit and credit, the nett profit is small, sometimes you lose. Therefore when you wake up on morning and see that crop that you work so hard on has been reaped by person who spent not one cent to see them to that stage, it is enough to make you do something stupid. Many persons are in the same state as Mr Bethell and unless something is done pretty soon, more farmers will stop planting.
Bonny Peppa // October 11, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Who can remember the fella that fell in the well while attempting to steal some sweet potatoes from a plantation some time ago? He got just what he deserved. We just need a few more unmarked wells to take care of the praedial larcenist. Make the job easier for the Police. How ya like ma?
Hopi // October 11, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Once it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mr.Bethell’s crop has been stolen, the Gov’t of Barbados should have to financially and mentally compensate him. This finance should come directly from the annual dues that the Gov’t pays to the United Nations which pays salaries for its rogue army to traverse the world and commit heinous crimes such as rape. This is one instance where gov’t oversight is needed to safeguard and protect the welfare of the citizens.
Technician // October 11, 2008 at 12:30 PM
What has me even more concerned is the fact that farmers use pesticides with a ‘days to harvest’(DTH) deadline.
What if the thief stole crops on Friday, which were sprayed on, say Wednesday, with DTH time of 7 days?
It means that someone out there is selling poisonous food.This puts lots more at risk as some of these pesticides could be harmful if not fatal.
Will the Police add attempted murder to the charges as well?
People just don’t seem to realize how dangerous this practice is.
David // October 11, 2008 at 1:26 PM
We feel that it is unacceptable for the farmers and farming authorities to accept a position of having their produce stolen going on more than 30+ years. Can we suggest that we should place a bounty on the heads of the thieves who stole Mr. Bethell’s cassavas.
Bonny Peppa // October 11, 2008 at 2:14 PM
In response to Hopi, let us not get too carried away and all emotional about this situation and start to think too irrationally. Let me explain, how easy is it for Gov’t to prove ‘beyond a shadow of a doubt’ that someone is the victim of praedial larceny. Have you ever heard of a thing called ‘organised crime’? I think that it might be easier to deploy BDF soldiers on some of these estates to prevent this from happening. How easy would that be, is another question. How ya like ma?
The scout // October 11, 2008 at 2:15 PM
David
I agree, but a lot of bounties would have to be placed on a lot of people’s head. This is not an isolated case, farmers lose crops every week, many don’t ta;k about it.This is not the first time Mr bethell has lost crops either.
Technician
On many occasions, crops that have been stolen were recently sprayed and harvested before the DTH. Some of these sprays are dangerous if not used properly. When I was farming I would allow a few extra days to pass after the DTH before I harvested. Some of these sprays are labelled ” FOR EXPORT ONLY.” That scares me
The scout // October 11, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Boony Peppa
Yes but then there would be the outcry that they misusing the BDF. The public don’t understand that this thing is organised. A farmer once caught some fellows with a truck stealing his crop and when he confronted them, they pull a gun on him and told him to leave.No sense calling the cops because when they get there, the truck gone and the truck number is fake.
David // October 11, 2008 at 2:30 PM
@The Scout
We understand that a bounty is not a 100% solution but it is better that the defeatist approach in play at the moment.
ROK // October 11, 2008 at 4:21 PM
David,
Not sure where I suggested that if one person is caught that it will stop the thiefing. Read my post again. Some good suggestions coming out above and let me say that if the police really wanted to catch somebody they would be in jail all now.
I am not subscribing to the red handed theory. If you have no ground, or even if you have, but you are not growing tomatoes and have tomatoes and you can’t show where you got it from, then you are guilty of a crime; if I am not mistaken.
They do it with money laundering. You think you could identify each individual note? If I lose $100 in a room where nobody else had $100, you are telling me that if a person is found with a $100 in that room and I can’t identify it, then I can’t claim it and the person can’t get convicted for stealing? Circumstantial evidence alone got that person. If they do it with murder, what else it can’t happen with?
So what is so difficult about preadial larceny? Shopkeepers get caught with stolen stock; how can that happen then?
If first you have a suspect, then you can try to place that person at the scene. Begin from somewhere. Not enough is happening here. A friend of mine once lost a quarter acre of pumpkins; every pumpkin and every vine too; in three hours in broad daylight.
You telling me that nobody see, when in order to get to the ground the vehicle had to pass through an entire village (at least half mile with houses on both sides) and come back out through the same road? Furthermore the ground can be seen by every house in the village because it is in the bottom and all the houses overlook it.
Did the Police interview any of the residents? Preadial larceny is no different to any crime when it comes to investigations.
Bdos Consumer Watch // October 11, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Hi guys:
You know sometimes I am amazed at our thought process.
Farmer Bethell decided that since somebody else was reaping his labour and he was getting nothing for it, he would cut his losses and ensure that no one else steals his labour.
So what are the naysayers on about..should the farmer have allowed the thieves to continue to reap what they did not sow. You know guys..we keep talking about the police should do this and the police should do that…but is it now us the consumers who should also be doing?
When John Browne offers us some tomatoes at$2.00 per pound when they are selling for $5.00 in the market, what do we do….don’t we grab at the bargain and call our friends and tell them about John Browne tomatoes.
We do the same thing with clothes, perfumes, electronic equipment and cell phones.
Then we say that the police should catch the thieves!!!!!!
We the consumers are encouraging and supporting the thieves.
Yes Rok….somebody probably saw what happened..but you know what..they don’t want no trouble or they don’t want to get involved.
Until we start to take some responsbility for all our actions and not just some of them ..not just praedial larceny, but all types of crime will continue and we will continue to wring our hands and say that the Police should solve these crimes.
I am sure we all know of several stories of thiefing of all types…and what do we do..we sit in our drawing rooms , watching tv and talk about it .
This inertia runs right through our island and as I keep saying as consumers we really are a woeful bunch.
Facts // October 11, 2008 at 8:43 PM
We need to put an end to this stealing.
Tough penalties when the perpetrators are caught
Those abetting these acts should be severely punished
Jeppastud // October 11, 2008 at 9:59 PM
I think that maybe ALL of the farmer should do exactly what Mr. Bethell did.
The police 90% of the time don’t turn up to court when they have caught the people so they get off. I can only conclude from the lack of interest in getting justice done that this is not a serious problem!
So lets plough up all the crops when any are stolen. No local produce, have to waste money importing it. Price gone up! Farmer ain’t making any money, can’t pay workers. LOSS OF JOBS. People with no jobs can’t buy the expensive imported veggies… Oh dear! How sad….
Maybe when you got a few hundred people on the bread line maybe, just maybe, the police and government will take praedial larceny seriously.
Tell me Why // October 11, 2008 at 10:10 PM
and technology like GPS technology
………………………………………………………
This idea from you PDC has be cracking up. Will you place a GPS system on every cassava, or you don’t understand what is really a GPS system?
GPS mean ‘Global Positioning System’ it is a navigational system involving satellites and computers that can determine the latitude and longitude of a receiver on Earth. In this scenario, for a GPS to work, the receiver will have to be attached to an object.
Tell me Why // October 11, 2008 at 10:17 PM
When John Browne offers us some tomatoes at$2.00 per pound when they are selling for $5.00 in the market, what do we do….don’t we grab at the bargain and call our friends and tell them about John Browne tomatoes.
……………………………………………………….an
ROK, you know I deal with words portray by posters. Probably the person selling the products for $5.00 might be using ‘price gouging tactics and the person selling for $2.00 might be selling at the right price.
The scout // October 12, 2008 at 2:56 AM
The tiefs are organisedand they know exactly whose crops to target. There are certain farmers who just don’t get robbed. You know why? Because the tiefs know the day/night one of them is caught “de dead” FULL STOP. These farmers got survaillence cameras in their fields and when they pick up movement they open fire.they did this because of previous cases of blatant tiefing. Do we want a “wild west” state?
Sundowner // October 12, 2008 at 9:20 AM
The thieves are selling in company yards to workers, my husband came back with a huge bag of cucumbers for $2, when I pointed out they were most likely stolen he said the company should control who does and doesn’t sell in their yard…..(C.O.W.)
These thieves will put farmers out of business, or do they have to fence in their entire land? not practicable and they would still find a way around that.
We have a small piece of garden near the road, which we’re fencing in, cause all are fruits are stolen every year, well that’s part of my income, if someone shouts you and asks if he can have a mango, fine, but if he strips your tree bare or digs up your ground provisions while you’re at work, that’s another matter. Everyone telling us to grow more food, no point if its stolen as soon as you’re back is turned…….
David // October 12, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Perhaps it is the single act by Mr. Bethell of destroying the cassava crop left after the theft which has brought the problems of the local farmers into the spotlight.
The People's Democratic Congress // October 12, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Thanks to BU, many many of our supporters are able to read ALL of the submissions that we have been making on this blog-site!! Make no doubt about it we will continue to direct hundreds of people in Barbados to this blogsite so that they can read our submissions as well as those of others.
Anyhow, to get down to brass tacks, we in PDC would like to ask: who remembers reading in the DLP Election Manifesto of 2008, this promise: “The DLP Government will in the first 100 days introduce the Agricultural Protection Act that will require both Houses of Parliament for change of use from Agriculture.”?
Also, who remembers when there was
intense national discussion in March concerning the 100-day timelines that were written into the DLP Election Manifesto 2008, and that the above outlined promise was one that was proved by almost ever political pundit and dabbler in Barbados to be a blatantly failed promise of this DLP Government?
And, who remembers that just around the time when this DLP Government was failing to fulfil that promise, that Sir Charles Williams told Barbados via a section of the media that the DLP Government had given him permission to develop 8O something acres of, what we believe is, arable agricultural land in St. Lucy?
And, who would believe that after that fact of Sir Charles telling Barbados so, that a Tony Best news story in the Daily Nation, 24 June, 2008, stated that the Prime Minister’s position was that NO ARABLE LAND WOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF AGRICULTURE AND USED FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT?
Therefore, what we in PDC have been seeing are terrible inconsistencies as these relate to this wretched DLP Government’s policy and decisional making processes with regard to core issues of land use, land/physical development, and agricultural and non-agricultural development in Barbados. No doubt such glaring inconsistencies will continue – until a PDC Government is installed in Barbados – inspite of what Mr. Thompson was reported to have said in June in New York, and in spite of the fact that these inconsistencies expose the many weaknesses in overall national planning and development in Barbados.
PDC
The scout // October 12, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I once had a farm labourer from another country assisting me with my crop. At the time I was harvesting sweet peppers, when I picked, I got 12-15 bags of peppers, when he picked, I was only getting 2-4 bags. I remained home one day with the house closed up and caught him selling 10 bags to a hawker in a van. I waited until they were loaded and my 3 bags were placed in the garage, then opened my door as he was being paid. I took the money from him and asked him to leave my premises. I was the worst person in the world. My money to buy seedlings, my money to prepare the land, my money for fertilizer, mymoney to pay him every week while the crop was maturing, yet he told me i was unfair because I don’t want him to live.i called immigration after finding out he was illegal and had him deported.
Plaid pants // October 13, 2008 at 12:08 PM
I am angry with Bethell for destroying his crop because of praedial larceny. Two issues here. I condemn praedial larceny but destroying valuable nutritious crops that could be sold or distributed to needy people is criminal and racist. I dont like the photo of Bethell in jack boots with his “workers” it looks very colonial.
David // October 13, 2008 at 12:27 PM
@Plaid pants
Why is it unusual to see a farmer in boot?
ROK // October 13, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Hi David,
I don’t think that people realise that when a farmer decides to plough back in a crop, it is with economic considerations.
There are two:
1. whether it is worthwhile to pay labourers to pick the crop; would you still retain a profit?
2. If the crop is not ripe, the opportunity cost of allowing the crop to remain and land stay idle, when in fact another crop could be on its way.
In the first scenario, the farmer will probably reap enough on his own to recoup some costs; probably keep a good stock for himself.
The other scenario would be to let people pick for themselves at a reduced price for the crop; even when you do this, it is amazing the dishonesty and greed of too many of those who are coming. One man pay for a rod and dig two.
The only thing to do is give that person back their money and don’t let them take anything. The farmer gains if the produce is properly picked. He don’t have to dig them now and can get a better price. That may be short-sighted but it would send home a lesson to the dishonest ones. If they want to come back and thief, then they expose themselves to a certain amount of danger and have to work double.
The scout // October 13, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Plaid pants
Mr Bethell’s crop was not matured enough for harvesting. He would have been wrong to try selling them before they were ready. If he had left them to mature, God knows how many more would have been stolen. it would have been foolhardy to give them away because the same theif would help reap them. I wish more farmers would come out and talk about the problem they are facing not only with praedial larceny but having to plough their crops back into the ground. Sometimes when the crop is ready, there is a glut of imported stock on the market and it makes it unecomonical to harvest. This BOLD step by Mr Bethell would bring to light part of the problem LOCAL farmers are facing.
The scout // October 13, 2008 at 5:12 PM
There is not easy quick fix to the problem, since a lot of the larceny is done by other people who are masquerading as farmers. This problem, though not new, has escalated through imported influence.
ROK // October 13, 2008 at 6:35 PM
David,
Mr Bethel is certainly not the first and will probably not be the last to plough a crop back in. This story will also probably do like the rest; stay in the public eye for a while and then forgotten.
It makes no sense talking all around this problem The police have to start investigating these reports rather than just take the report and do nothing.
I would also like to state that these situations do nothing for the reputation of the Police. I am sure that many have it on their minds that some corrupt policeman(men) is/are in the do but don’t want to say it. In the past they were some rather dishonest policemen out there who preyed on shopkeepers for their weekly groceries, for rum, etc.
It wasw reported that in one case a drug dealer got off because he challenged the weight of the drugs and when weighed it did not come up to mark. If these drugs were in the custody of the Police, tell me where they went?
The police don’t like these things to be said about them but when people get disgruntled about lack of action on the part of the Police, these things come out.
You have no idea how many farmers came out of farming because of this kind of stealing and how many more took their land out of agriculture to sell to developers or develop the land themselves. Why not? I hope we can dig up the houses when we realise our mistake.
Food security gone through the proverbial eddoes. Why? because enough effort is being put into these deterrents to agriculture. If there is one farmer who never got crops stolen that is a lot.
Peltdownman // October 14, 2008 at 7:29 AM
I watched a very interesting item on “60 Minutes” the other night about how pilotless aircraft were used to great effect in Sadr City in Iraq to identify and track insurgents. These aircraft are expensive, and I don’t know if the U.S. will sell them to a country like Barbados, but they could be used for crop surveillance, and to follow and track thieves right back to their hidey holes. Just a thought.
The scout // October 14, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Peltdownman
That is expensive, first world stuff. let’s look at the simple methods first. Could it be persons who are registered as farmers who are stealing? Could it be that this has escalated since the arrival of different “illegal”persons into the country who are bringing their “culture” with them, plus their intention to succeed at any cost? These and many other questions should be answered first.
Bonny Peppa // October 14, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Plaid Pants,
Wha’ colour dat plaid is?
Mr. Bethel did what he did out of sheer frustration, I guess? Would you have done anything differently? I would like to see one or two of these larcenist get shot to death or paralyzed. That would give the others “food” for thought. No pun intended.
How ya like ma.
The scout // October 14, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Bonny Peppa
The only problem there is that the same farmer would then have to grow many more crops and hope for little or no praedial larceny to pay a lawyer to stop him going to jail. there are many farmers who have been forced out of production because of praedial larceny. One farmer told me when he stopped, he offered his lot to a non-bajan to cultivate. He did this for a year with no tiefing occuring. He took it back over after the year’s rent was completed. Half of his first crop of melons were stolen one night. He saod he ploughed the remainer back in the ground. His four acres is now in grass and scrubs.The reason, he don’t want to bring himself in trouble with anyone over a piece of land.
J // October 14, 2008 at 5:19 PM
Dear Bonny Peppa:
If you think that more unmarked wells is the solution to the stealing of agricultural produce then you are more idiotic than I though possible.
I too have had my cassava stolen (47 of 50 holes planted) just last month. But No I do not have, nor do I want an unmarked well on my property.
I can’t believe the savagery of people like you.
J // October 14, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Dear Hopi:
Does the government owe me compensation because me cassave too? (and all the yams which I planted last year) I think not. I doubt very much that “the government” stole my cassava. So why should they compensate me.
The truth is that we do not have, have never had and may never have enough police to patrol our fields. And the theives know this. The thieves also know that I am a part time farmer and they know exactly when I am sitting in an office 10 miles from my field.
Roving policepatrols may reduce the rate of stealing, but it will NEVER be eliminated.
Zauditu // October 14, 2008 at 8:24 PM
The Lord will deal with Mr. Bethel for doing that to the cassava crop. It is a sin for there are so many hungry mouths in this world and he wants to do that to the lovely cassava. A Chinese man in Guyana cut down all he orange trees that were laden with oranges because Guyanese were going on the property and thiefing the oranges, now mind you he did not the oranges, they fell on the ground to rot, well about two days later after the trees were cut down the Lord cut down the Chinese man in Guyana, just as he had cut down the fertile orange trees, the man had such a massive heart attack in that now barren orange grove and was not found for two days, so Mr. Bethel had better take heed before he too is cut down by the Lord.
The scout // October 15, 2008 at 3:15 AM
Zauditu
What happen to those who were tiefing the oranges? They still living? Oh My God, that is a different God than the one I’m worshipping. I’m going to ask him why he did that to the man and left the thieves. It seem that people like you think you have the right to go on people’s property and reap what you have not sown. That’s why my land would remain idle and no guyanese nor anyone else would work it. When I work the land, I get stealing, when I rent it to guyanese, they don’t get stealing. I was good at maths at school and I loved solving equations. This one was easy.
The scout // October 15, 2008 at 3:19 AM
Zauditu
I understand, the plan is to steal from local, get them frustrated and stop farming then you people come and rent the land at peppacorn money and get up licking. Well it might work for others but NONE of you people can’t get my land. Import some from your country.
ROK // October 15, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Scout
Not trying to be wicked or anything, but that equation was easy because you left out two factors:
1. You work the land – tiefing
2. You rent to Guyanese – no tiefing
3. You hire Guyanese – ?
4. You hire Bajans – ?
Work on them two last factors for me please. I need a mathematician like you.
Hopi // October 15, 2008 at 10:43 AM
J….
Ok you don’t want compensation, you don’t get compensation. However, for all those farmers who feed the nation, it is of utmost importance that a “democratically” elected government, make their business a priority by doing whatever it takes to protect the food. What the hell is more important than food? Without food the people perish! When the security of food is threatened then the security of a nation is threatened. If you want to import the same cassava and GM food from abroad, be my guess. Maybe these thieves are working on the behalf of some major corporation which wants to control all food production on the island. What Barbados need is a “thief tax” which will allow for a special prosecutor to go after these criminals and for farmers’ compensation. If they can pay dues to the corrupt UN they can protect their food, short of that allow each farmer the luxury of boobie-trapping their property and a couple of double-barrel shot guns.
(May God have mercy on Hopi for harbouring such thoughts).
Hopi // October 15, 2008 at 10:50 AM
“be my guest.”
The scout // October 15, 2008 at 12:04 PM
RDK
I rented the land to the same guyanese guy who was working for me. In fact I had plan to leave it idle and he BEGGED me to rent it to him. I used the opportunity to test my faith in him. Why/ because he wasalways waking me early in the morning or just after I get in on evening running to the car to report further lose. There was NEVER stealing on week-ends but I was stupid I trusted him.
The scout // October 15, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Let me be BOLD and ask a BOLD question. I might get cuss for this. Did anyone hear guyanese complain about stealing? I’m not saying that ALL praedial larceny is done by them or that they are ALL bad but certainly they are many who have just brought their NASTY habits here. I know what I’m talking about
ROK // October 15, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Man Scout, you ‘ent do justice to the equation. What kind of mathematician you are?
1. You work the land – tiefing
2. You rent to Guyanese – no tiefing
3. You hire Guyanese – tiefing
4. You hire Bajans – tiefing
Q.E.D.
ROK // October 15, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Sorry Scout, I left out the best part:
when (-3) – (-4) – (-1), then x = 0
when 1 – 2 then x is negative
when 3 + 4 then x is negative
when (-3 -4 – 1) + 2 then x is positive
Q.E.D.
The scout // October 15, 2008 at 1:51 PM
RDK
What you lrft out of the equation is the fact that, the land was rented to the same guyanese who was working for me. Factor that into your equation.
Bonny Peppa // October 15, 2008 at 10:23 PM
J
You can’t believe the savagery of people like me? Call it what you like Sweetheart but I see it as protecting my interest, whatever the cost? If you want to remain poor, peaceful and polite while the thieves ‘work’ on your labour, I have no quarrel with you. I doubt that the fella that dropped in the well whilst attempting to ‘cah-way’ the sweet potatoes ever venture near an estate again. He probably hate sweetpotatoes now.
How ya like ma?
Peace.
Bonny Peppa // October 15, 2008 at 10:32 PM
The Scout,
You remember the 3 thugs that went to rob the Supermarket somewhere in Christ-Church? What happened to them? Let me refreshen your memory. The owner, Mr.King, may he rest in peace, was a marksman and these bitches didn’t know that. You remember what happened to them? I will not tell you. That will be your Homework for this week. You really think that if a man is protecting his property and a bitch is killed in the process that the judicial system would really lock up the person? He would have to probably be investigated by the Police as protocol but that is as far as it would probably go. Wha’ u tink?
How ya like ma?
Peppa Seed // October 16, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Bonny Peppa
You might “peppa” the first set of thieves but the second and third sets will be expecting to find peppas and therfore mighht come prepared to fight fire with fire.
Bonny Peppa // October 16, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Peppa Seed
I like dah name doah. Peppa Seed, chawwwww.
You feel dat a “tief” could know my environs better than me? He would got to bring a army a ‘thiefs” to overpower me at me man. Tek my word.
How ya like ma?
Peppa Seed // October 16, 2008 at 9:46 PM
People have died in their own homes at the hands of thieves.
The “tiefs” as has been implied above, might be working for you, so they might know your fields and produce better than you. They could be working for you during the day and against you during the night.
The willing buyers, with their obtain a bargain regardless mentality, are the root cause of the problem.
This foolishness will only stop when it is no longer possible for the theives to profit from stealing produce.
worried bajan // October 17, 2008 at 10:26 AM
thiefing too rampant these days.I have friends who got ground and plant on it too and ppl who live round d same farmer i know also.one of the guys who live near the farmer goes around asking people if they want buy casava or any bananas or any such thing,but this guy does not even have a casava plant or a banana tree at home.it all comes from the farmers ground ,yet when he talks to the farmer on a daily basis you would never guess it is him thiefing and word has reached the farmer as well.on another note,went to buy an animal a day from a guy who i know raises them.when i ask him if he has any ready he goes to me no but there are loads over there and don;t worry i will sort u out.i gently went to him no thank you and walked off.him offering to go thief something to sell me and then saying at end of it i wud get what i want and he will get what he want (money).i have never returned to buy anythign form him again.also some meats which end up in the butchers meat stall and supermarkets are also stolen (not saying the butchers steal them).ppl don;t realise what they r buying
Bonny Peppa // October 17, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Peppa Seed
Ya frightening me now. So wah gun happen? Is there any consolation for these farmers who toil night and day only to have their produce stolen? By the way, I salute these farmers because all of us can’t do it. I for one, can’t even hold a hoe farless dig up and plant. Lord hah mercy.
Ya got to help we out hay Peppa seed. I give up.
How ya like ma?
Peppa Seed // October 17, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Farmers will have to employ secruity when crops are near to maturity.
Mobile elevated towers can be constructed, these would be placed in the centre of the fields, enabling security personell equiped with night vision equipment to have a bird’s eye view of the fields. The police would have rapid response units to answer calls for assistance.
Of course this would have to be subsidized by the government, and farmers would have to plant crops with similar maturity rates in close proximity, to minimized the numberof towers needed on each farm.
Greenhouse farming could be done more as it is easier to secure greenhouses.
In the end people will have to support farmers by only buying produce from reputable sources. Farmers could help themselves by selling directly to consumers at reasonable prices, reducing the need for people to go bargain hunting.
The scout // October 18, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Recently, I was told of a farmer who had a two acre lot of corn. He would monitor the corn often,when he went to reap the corn, starting on Monday morning, all he had to reap was corn stock. Someperson/s raid the corn over the weekend and took hunderds of corn from the man’s land. These people want nailing to the cross when caught.
Agreed // October 18, 2008 at 8:18 AM
I agree with Mr. Bethell 100%.
Bonny Peppa // October 18, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Peppa Seed
You got to be into agriculture. You got dis ting down-pact. Only needs some enforcement now.
Greetings and salutations to your good self Peppa.
Your contribution is worth its weight in gold.
Come to the front of the class. Scholar.
How ya like ma?
The scout // October 23, 2008 at 3:20 AM
Just heard of another farmer who got a large part of his melons and patatoes stolen. When will it end? These thieves are bold and dangerous.
Bonny Peppa // October 23, 2008 at 4:27 PM
The Scout,
It will stop when one or two of them become ‘target-practise’ for the farmers. Ya only got to start by making them an example and the others will ‘lie-low’, if only for a while, then when it starts back, oops, another one bites de dust.
How ya like ma?
The scout // October 23, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Bonny Peppa
Da song good.When a farmer tek up a fella, I will be there to give him my support.
Bonny Peppa // October 24, 2008 at 7:36 PM
The Scout,
Aw-rite den. You will be there to give your support and I will be right behind you ’cause you know what they say about unity? It is strenght.
How ya like ma?
Marcus Gravvy // October 24, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Wunnuh gwine be there to say “wuhloss, wuh de @#$? farmer gone and do? He like he foolish! How he could shoot a fella just so, cuh dear!”
The scout // October 25, 2008 at 5:27 AM
Marcus Gravvy
Um in jus so? I’m seriously thinking about getting back into agriculture, after many cases of praedial larceny. If I do decide and return and I catch a fella in my land tiefing, it will be he or me gine down and I don’t care who support me. Unless somebody take the bull by the horns and show him who’se boss he would always try running over you. I’m not afraid to say it, this guyanese invasion into this country is distroying the very fabric of our bajan culture. Don’y get me wrong, I’m not saying that we didn’t have problems before but not of the magnitude that we are having them now. If you want to get information, pass Fairchild Street especially Friday night when them buyanese drunk and their tongues loose. You would hear everything you want to hear and more and bajans remaining silent.
Bonny Peppa // October 25, 2008 at 1:30 PM
The Scout
You know that we Bajans are a very docile people too. We only do a lot of talking but when it comes down to standing up for what is right, we crumble like stale cake. You go ahead and do your planting man and do whateva it takes to protect your interest.
How ya like ma?
Bonny Peppa // October 25, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Marcus Gravvy,
You really feel dat if a tief get kill whether it be ‘tiefing crops, robbing a bank or gas station etc and the bitch is shot and killed or better yet crippled for life, that there would be an outcry? It always is this tiefing bitch’s mother or other family members that swear on a stack of bibles that ‘he was a good boy who went to church everyday’. I never hear nabody sympathising wid dese criminals. We got to start being vigilantes or we won’t be able to step out we house in time to come. As de Scout say, ‘ we got to take de bull by de horns.
How ya like ma?
Marcus Gravvy // October 25, 2008 at 4:38 PM
I ain’t got any sympathy fuh no tief and whatever hell dey get dey deserve! But I ain’t going advise nuh friend of mine to shoot a fella cause when done de police and de courts going come down hard pun de shooter especially if he white and de tief black. Look at some of the stupid comments made about Bethel plowing up he own cassavas in frustration! You could imagine what would happen if he did shoot a fella tiefing he cassavas?
My advice to anyone wid plenty agricultural land is to sell it fuh house spots, make a fortune and retire in Miami. We could import food cheaper anyway than if we try to grow it. De Guvment got plenty land leh me see dem grow something instead of grass. All dem politicians could only talk purty. Haynesly Benn nevah grow a thing in he life, before he became a Minister he dint wukking fuh DaCostas?
Wuh? // October 25, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Marcus Gravvy, you are a jackass. Haynesley Benn was manager of the BAS for over 20 years, a 4H member for his whole life and a farmer in his own right.
Why don’t you go to Miami and rest your distorting soul?
Marcus Gravvy // October 25, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Where dis farm was? The BAS is bare boo and de 4H did nearly dead! Don’t worry I gwine be resting in Pinecrest real soon. Agriculture in B’dos is only a hobby nobody tekking it seriously. Fuh the last 40 years all I hearing is how important agriculture is but wuh happening and Benn did one of big mouths about agriculture fuh a long time til even he had to run. Wuh happen? Tek my word he going retire wid a nice pension and agriculture going be in an even worst state. But don’t get me wrong not because of Benn but in spite of Benn.
The scout // October 25, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Marcus Gravvy
When you don’t know something, it’s better to ask than to make a FOOL of yourself. Mr Haynesley Benn’s first love has always been agriculture, from a very young age Mr Benn was involved in agriculture, he was very intsrumental in forming or reviving agriculture through Barbados as a school teacher, then became manager of the 4H movement. Even after joining DaCosta’s Manning, he still was involved in assisting farmers throughout this country. I believe, Mr Benn is one of the most knowledgable Agriculture Ministers in recent times in this country.
Bonny Peppa // October 25, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Marcus Gravvy,
Like my learnted friends said, Mr Benn is very knowledgable in that area. More than you could ever imagine I guess. So before you go shooting off ya mout and talking sh#&% ’bout my minister pleeze check ya data first man. I still maintain dat dese mudda-fu__ers want killing or crippling. It is not fair for a handfull of criminals to holdup a whole country to ransom.Why should they be allowed to reap crops that they didn’t plant? And your answer to this nonsense is to shut shop and migrate to Miami. You more foolish than ya look.
How ya like ma?
Marcus Gravvy // October 25, 2008 at 10:27 PM
School teacher, manager of 4H, manager of BAS, manager at DaCostas
See agriculture did he hobby. Never made a living solely from farming. Benn is a pleasant, well meaning fellow but like Scout- a hobby agriculturist.
sorry agriculture going nowhere fast!
Look dey could put Einstein to be Minister for all I care. Is there a comprehensive plan with allocated resources (land, money, equipment, training, marketing, etc) for agriculture? Other than wishful thinking and vague generalities please tell me. What is B’dos food security plan? Have we identified areas of comparitive advantage? OK it is early days yet for this administration but sorry if I’m cynical but I’ve heard this song before. For a man who has been in agriculture for so many years what is Benn’s solution to say praedial larceny? He couldn’t get farmers to work with the BAS scheme some years ago so what will he come with now? I hear the minister call for increased fines but the police don’t catch anybody so dey could have de death penalty for stealing crops yuh got to catch the crooks and prosecute first. Furthermore, the same people who was advising the last guvment advising this one and I am to expect something different? and Atlee Brathwaite bogged down at Water Authority when he should be full time engaged in an agriculture sector enhancement program.
BTW Peppa, how you know what I look like? You could look through my monitor?
Marcus Gravvy // October 25, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Also remember the farmer up in St John (can’t remember his name he used to be a land surveyor, ah think it was Kinch) who grew vegetables and installed flood lights and had dobermans to help patrol his fields? He shot at a few tiefs, I heard once the tiefs shot back. He sell out to Clico,( who own most of the plantation land in St.John). Look at the state of their fields and yuh can’t get a tomato or an okra from those lands now! Look at the state of Colleton yard or Todds yard. Clico got money, they are a serious company but what is their plan for their considerable land holdings? Yuh mean they had to wait for the DLP to get elected before they do something? Government running BADMC, which running the sugar industry, what they doing with all the old factory yards that all over the island. Couldn’t some of these be refurbished as post harvest centers and rural business centres as part of a rural development thrust? What is the story with Black Belly Sheep? Vincent Layne and COW trying something but are they getting any help? While Barbados may not be major meat supplier couldn’t we be suppliers of associated technology and know-how to say Guyana or Surinam where land is available. What going on with cotton? One of the most knowledgeable persons in cotton growing, trained both here and in Israel, get runway from B’dos and working as a teacher in New York! Wuh Benn gun do bout dat. Rotherly investing in greenhouses up in St Thomas and the Ministry begging them fuh advice. Shouldn’t it be the otherway around? What about urban gardening? De Cubans and de Venezuelans developing this kind of intense farming wuh we doing? UWI had some success with responding to oinon blast but OGarro left UWI gone working for the UN and I ain’t hear anybody continuing this kind of work (but I could be wrong). But wunnuh hear of plans to invest money in biotechnology at UWI? I hear bout a Fifa football pitch, and a masters in African History. Wuh going on wid de Scotland District other than it washing way?
Look Scout and Peppa wunnuh want to shoot a tief but duh got much much more to dis agriculture thing but I understand yuh want to send a message.
The scout // October 26, 2008 at 2:58 AM
Look Marcus Gravvy, I never told you I would shoot a tief, all I am saying whatever he gets, i hope he can that it. whether it is in my land or in my house. If you want to ind out what anyone who trys it would get, you or one of your friends are welcome to experience the scenerio. Be my guess, the pleasure is ALL yours.
Bonny Peppa // October 26, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Marcus Gravvy,
Look, I don’t want all de hyperboles and ‘long talk’. You seem to know a lot about agriculture. But we were discussing how to prevent praedial larceny and you gone on ‘rattling’ ’bout everything unda de sun. You showing-off or wah? Just joking. I am impressed with your info. We could use you in the sector.
Another thing, when I say, ‘you are more foolish than you look’, don’t take it to heart, Mr.Thin-skin, I was just using a simile.
Please put a handle on my name. It is Bonny-Peppa, not just Peppa, OK?
Peace.
How ya like ma?
Bonny Peppa // October 26, 2008 at 1:05 PM
The Scout,
You like you backing down from dis “shoot a tief ting” but not me. I stand by my decision still. Shoot or cripple. Would somebody please tell me if de fella dat fall in de well trying to tied de man sweetpotatoes is still around. Somebody in BU got to know he man. You feel dat he ever went praedialing again. He would got a really big heart.
So Scout, don’ let Marcus Gravvy intimidate your thinking. If you feel a tief want killing fa tiefing wha’ he din’ sow, stick to ya guns man. I backing ya.
How ya like ma?
What Is The Food Security Plan For Barbados? « Barbados Underground // October 26, 2008 at 3:15 PM
[...] 26, 2008 · No Comments Comment posted by BU family member Marcus Gravvy on the Agriculture In Barbados At The Crossroads [...]
Rum Pig // November 6, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Haaaa whats new wanna.Crop teffing been around in Barbados for generations.As a young man growing up in Bim we used to sit in the middle of the cane field and suck the de whole center out of de canefield.
Only thing dat stop we was de blast from de shot gun.
Fifty years later the solution could be the same—–shoot de tiefs