A cattle farmer of West Canje in East Berbice (Region Six: East Berbice-Corentyne) is accusing Police officers of not taking action to dismantle a cattle-rustling ring operating in the general county of Berbice.
This farmer recently chased down a butcher of a West Coast Berbice community in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and found him with seven head of cattle which the farmer claimed had been stolen from his ranch, located along the Canje River. And whereas the farmer was asked to produce documentation to prove ownership of the animals, which by then had been impounded on the West Coast of Berbice, a Police officer in Region Five released four of the animals to the butcher even before he returned with his documentation.
Two of the animals in the Police pound at Fort Wellington
This cattle farmer, Krishna Persaud, is therefore accusing the Police of being part of a cattle rustling ring in Berbice.
Persaud, who has several hundred head of cattle at Potuka, situated about 30 miles up the Canje River, said last Friday he had received information that persons had visited his ranch to steal cattle. He was subsequently informed that the animals had been taken across the Berbice River to the West Coast of Berbice, and he had gone to a location there based on the information he had received.
Persaud said persons there had informed him that a popular butcher had been transporting animals in the backdam at about midnight.
“I go down the mud dam and trace the tractor wheel mark, and it lead to this man yard. When I reach, I see some cows in his yard. I called the Police, and we went back the following morning, and they saw the cows and they took them to Fort Wellington Police Station; seven head of cow. Some of the cow brands were tampered. Two of the cows that I bought did not have my brand. I took the receipt and showed the Police,” he explained.
“On Saturday, the Police handed over four cows to the same people that thieving my cows!” an agitated Persaud revealed. He said the animals were handed over without his knowledge, and during the period he was sent to get the evidence to prove ownership of the animals.
Contacted on the allegation of Police involvement in this cattle-rustling racket, a senior Police officer in Region Five told this publication that the investigation is being handled by the Police in Region Six, even though the animals were being kept at the pound at Fort Wellington Police Station in Region Five.
A source has told this publication that the Police administration of Region Five was unaware that some of the animals had been handed over to the butcher; but Persaud is claiming it was an officer in Region Five who had instructed that the animals be handed over to the butcher.
This publication has not been allowed to take photographs of the animals in the pound, and Persaud himself has also been prevented from going to the pound while this newspaper is present.
“The Police in Region Six need to support cattle farmers more!” Krishna Persaud is contending. “One day I went into the savannah and meet 20 of my cows tie up and five horsemen in my place. I save myself by shouting out, ‘Officer! Officer! Look them here!’ And then the horsemen shoot up in the air and rode away,” Persaud detailed.
“These are some of the challenges I face…over 600 head of cattle I lost from my savannah from January last year to now. Young calves and all they are stealing,” he declared.
This cattle farmer has said he is now down to about 300 head of cattle.
Meanwhile, the animals have been taken back to Region Six, and the Police have said they would be preparing a file to send to the DPP for advice while the three head of cattle remain impounded.
As for cattle farmer Persaud, his contention is: “I want justice! Because the cows that were handed over should have been in the pound until the matter is solved! The cows should not have been handed over to nobody!”
However, on Wednesday, the cattle farmer told this publication that he was informed that the animals which were handed over to the butcher have since been returned to the pound.
Persaud is of the steadfast conviction that the Police should do more to address cattle rustling in Region Six. Region Five, he said, is being used as a transshipment point for stolen cattle. (G4)
