Is the Cocrico an appropriate National Bird?

However while parrots are officially designated as an agricultural pest which may be hunted and their population thus kept under control, not so with the Cocrico, which is a National Bird and may not be hunted or killed at any time.

As a result of this protection afforded the Cocrico over the past forty years, its population has increased unimpeded and many farmers, especially growers of such crops as pigeon peas, plantains and tomatoes, have been complaining over the years that the Cocrico has ruined their business and has dissuaded them from planting.

The time is long overdue for the destructive Cocrico to be removed as a National Bird of Trinidad and Tobago.

Should this be done, I am confident that the farmers of Tobago will once again be encouraged to “Grow More Food” in these days of high food prices.