Beckles: Illegal hunting has to be stopped

She was speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day Honorary Game Wardens Training Seminar yesterday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

"We have to remove the scourge of illegal hunting and sales," she stressed. "Some of us may see this as a ‘David and Goliath’ battle, but it is one that must be won! I do not use the term lightly. Statistics gathered by the Forestry Division show that on average, upwards of 40,000 game animals and birds are legally taken from the wild each hunting season.

Just imagine the toll on our wildlife species when you add to this, the illegal harvest!"

She spoke to an audience of newly appointed honorary game wardens who were to receive training in various aspects of environmental law enforcement.

Beckles said there have been 189 successful applicants into the Honorary Game Wardens programme. As a result, they have chosen to make a significant contribution as honorary game wardens to protect the nation’s wildlife and to help eliminate poaching.

She said the Forestry Division is currently precepting wildlife enforcement officers, giving them greater powers to carry out their duties.

"To date, eight game wardens have joined their senior counterparts in being precepted," she said, "while 17 have completed the necessary documentation for obtaining their precepts."

Beckles added that an additional 19 wildlife officers have passed the entrance examination and are waiting for official notification to proceed further.

"There are a limited number of vehicles available for patrols," she revealed, "so, a provision of $50 per patrol up to a maximum of $500 per month has been made for compensation for such use of your personal vehicle.

This would have significant benefits to the conservation effort by increasing the number of patrols at any point in time."

She noted that such a move would also have the benefit of providing unmarked vehicles for better wildlife enforcement efforts.

"A factor which is necessary for curbing the illegal capture and sale of wildlife throughout the country," she said. "It is also my satisfaction to announce," said Beckles, "that a further incentive of $50 per patrol up to a maximum of $500 per month is being provided for all appointed honorary game wardens in recognition of your commitment to the cause," she added.