An East Canje, Berbice, poultry farmer awoke to find his duck pen empty, and as a result he could not fulfil his orders for Christmas.
Chuian Lewis
With the market price for duck meat being $500 per pound, Chuian Lewis of Lot 8 Betsy Ground, East Canje, says he discovered forty ducks missing from his pen. The thieves, he said, left only two behind.
According to the poultry farmer, the response from Police has been very slow as they promised to commence investigations on Saturday night.
He explained that about 06:00h on Saturday, he went to open the pen and discovered that one of the birds was out.
He explained: “Then ah see one of the board brake out from the side of the pen and all the duck gone. Forth-two duck ah had and forty ducks they stole.”
Lewis said he quickly went to the Reliance Police Station, which is about four minutes away, to make a report. “Now they told me that there is no available CID to come to see what happened. Eventually, they told me that I have to wait until after 8 O’clock for a CID to come.”
Lewis, who also rears chickens, estimates his losses at $180,000 and explained that he started the poultry business last year to supplement the income he makes as a cane harvester.
Chuian Lewis pointing to the opening in his duck pen
According to the man, after several hours had elapsed, he reported the matter to Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, however he was told to go back to the Reliance Police Station.
“This time they take down my address and my name and told me till tonight [Christmas Eve night] that the CID gon come on patrol. When they come in the night they can’t get no evidence because the place gon be dark. I want them to see the footprint and where it lead to… It seems as though they waiting until more rain fall and wash out all the footprints,” Lewis said.
The distraught farmer says although he can point to suspects, he is helpless because of the lack of assistance from the Police. (Andrew Carmichael)
