Dear Editor,
I must thank well-known Attorney-at-Law Mr Mursalene Bacchus for his kind and compassionate gesture to offer his services pro-bono in an ongoing uphill battle to free a cow calf improperly and illegally impounded at the #51 Police Station.
Immediately after his benevolent gesture appeared in the press, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Jairam Ramlakhan, offered a damage mitigating response whereby he claimed that the ‘disputed ‘ calf would be auctioned off. However, to date, no effort has been made to do so.
However, I wish to highlight a few points. Firstly, the calf is not ‘disputed’, no one is claiming it. That is the reason why Section 61(1) is invoked. Furthermore, the same Section 61(1) (a) states that, ‘an animal remaining unclaimed for 7 days may be sold after due notice of sale for 7 days’. It must be noted that 7 DAYS have passed since Mr Ramlakhan’s letter in the media!
Furthermore, this would seem to suggest that this subsection overrides the unclaimed period of 3 months after which ‘unclaimed property or property found and remained unclaimed’ may be advertised for 14 days and then sold. It is pellucid that section (a) applies to ‘unclaimed animals,’ and this makes it conclusive that the calf should have been disposed of according to Section 61 (1) (b) months ago. This is the humane aspect of the law which seeks to avoid cruelty to ‘unclaimed’ animals that are impounded.
However, our law enforcers were blind to this, even though the Minister of Public Security was aware of the plight of this calf since October, and that includes from the Divisional Commander downwards.
We are still expectantly waiting to see the advertisement for the said auction, which was due months ago.
Lastly, the persons who are caring for this animal by providing feed and water took great offence by Mr Ramlakhan’s claim in his letter: “the ranks are doing their level best to ensure the proper upkeep of the animal”. It is the opposite! This is such a blatant lie! The Police at #51 Police Station never cared for this animal, even a quantity of bran and a bucket which a Good Samaritan took there for the calf went missing. This is unforgivable! Can you imagine that that stuff was stolen right in front of the eyes of the Police?
Persons feed and water this animal on a daily basis, not the Police! The Police neglected to do so, despite seeing that the calf’s leg was broken and it was in deep and agonizing pain.
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
RDC Councillor-Region Six
