Goat thieves leave farmers hurting

Heartache, pain and disappointed are not enough words to express the feelings of two St Andrew farmers who have been robbed of their goats, which they believe are worth over $2 million.

The victims have asked that their names not be revealed, as they fear reprisals from thieves. They are hoping legislators will put more teeth into praedial larceny laws to deter thugs from stealing their gains.

One of the victims, John, said thieves have use the cover of darkness to rob him of his goats.

"Me did have 22 goat and dem come last year October and tek five a dem one time. Den dem come back and tek one, another time dem tek one, until inna wah day here, dem come and gone wid 13 one time," the 42-year-old man shared.

His sense of anger could be felt as he related how he woke up sometime in June to see his goat pen empty.

"Me just wake up and me goat dem gone. Me can't even explain how me feel," he said.

John estimates the value of his goats to be more than $1.5 million.

The single father of two told THE STAR he has been involved in goat rearing for the past eight years. He said that in addition to raising goats, he is involved in the rearing of chicken, as well as the planting of crops such as banana, plantain and castor oil in order to earn a living. He also builds concrete blocks.

The distraught farmer said that he intended to use the proceeds from the sale of his goat to finish the construction of his house, expand his chicken farm, and fix his car.

"Me can't do nothing right now, because dem leave me wid nothing. See me goat pen deh, empty. Me nuh know weh fi do," John said.

Like John, Mary* has been burnt badly by praedial thieves. Her nanny goat and five kids were stolen in May. She said that she sought the assistance of the police and was stunned by the response.

"Me see the mother-goat over somebody yard and I go tell the police that my goat is there, and the police man tell me say me shoulda jump the person fence and see if my other goats were there," the woman said.

Mary said she is forced to burn charcoal for a living, as she no longer has the appetite to raise animals.

"Me 'fraid fi even start again because me nuh want lose nuh more. Fi one goat, about $50,000 upwards or even more, so you can imagine the money weh me lose," Mary said, the look of despair plastered on her face.

* Names changed to protect identity.