Contributed
Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton (centre) and Canadian High Commissioner, Denis Kingsley (left) examine vegetables produced by farmer Jervis Rowe under greenhouse conditions, at the closing ceremony of the Hurricane Dean Farmer Relief programme, recently.

Farmers in Bigwoods, St Elizabeth, who suffered losses from a bush fire in March, while narcotics police were on a ganja eradication mission in the area, are to seek the help of the public defender in their compensation case.

The decision was made on May 17 at a meeting between the farmers and their member of parliament, Dr Christopher Tufton, held at the Bigwoods Primary School, where the report of the police was presented.

Damaged by another fire

"The investigation was conducted by the Black River police, and it has accepted that the narcotics police lit a fire on the day that the crops and livestock were destroyed, but concluded that another fire which they did not light caused the damage. The farmers find this report unsatisfactory and have decided to take the matter to the public defender, with a view to obtaining further compensation, because they are clear in their minds as to what transpired," said Dr Tufton.

He told the farmers that the public defender has the staff to do an impartial investigation that will be satisfactory to all the parties involved.

"There are a number of questions that need to be asked, and the public defender is in a good position to bring this case to a conclusion, where everyone can feel satisfied," said the minister.

80 assisted

Meanwhile, parish manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority in St Elizabeth, Elton Bent, said his agency had assisted over 80 of the affected farmers with crop seeds, goats and fertiliser.

"After the fire, Minister Tufton asked us to help the farmers to get back into production, and we have assisted all those who suffered damage. We are continuing to work closely with them, and I am impressed at the recovery process. The crops are growing well and very soon they will be at a stage near to what they had before the fire," said Bent.