Man claims police stole his parrot

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has been cracking down on violators of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) after seizing several birds in St Ann in recent weeks.

The most recent seizure occurred in White River, St Ann, on Wednesday when members of the agency, with the assistance of the police, took in what is believed to be a yellow-billed Amazon parrot, which is on the endangered species list.

However, the man purporting to be the bird's owner, insists that he has done nothing wrong and accused the police of stealing the bird for which he said he paid US$100.

"Mi feel unjust fi know say di people dem come fi deal with raft, seh dem a do government work and a tief parrot, an' seh dem a officer and dem a police," he said. "Mi nuh love dat ... mi nuh feel good. Mi nuh have no justice inna di country, mi waa justice."

When he was reminded that the bird was protected species, he said that the police should have told him not to bring the bird back on the road. The authorities did not seek to detain the man who could have been fined or jailed under the ESA.

While NEPA's responses to queries from THE WEEKEND STAR did not arrive up to press time, it is understood that violators of the Act are liable to fines ranging from $500 to $50,000 or imprisonment. Under the Wild Life Protection Act, fines can be as high as $100,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 12 months.

Deputy Superintendent Kevon Powell, the head of the Ocho Rios police, said Wednesday's seizure followed a similar one a couple of weeks ago at the same location.

"But it doesn't happen very frequently, it's not something you see very often," Chambers said.