Cattle that had been roaming on a vacant plot of land in the Choc, Castries area were relocated over the weekend to a secure location for pasturing, following repeated appeals from motorists concerned about safety along the John Compton Highway.
The exercise was carried out by the Veterinary and Livestock Services Division in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, as part of a wider government effort to address the long-standing issue of stray and wandering livestock on major roadways.
Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir said the relocation was undertaken following direct instructions from the Prime Minister, with public safety at the forefront of the decision.
“The Prime Minister’s instructions were very clear. Let us do what we need to do to keep the people of Saint Lucia safe. And under our purview, this is one way that we can assist in reducing the number of accidents, particularly in that area,” Jawahir stated.
She explained that while not all cattle owners have come forward, the Ministry has been working closely with one owner whose animals were among those posing a risk to motorists.
“We have the cooperation of the owners. As I mentioned, every single owner has not come forward because there are still some cattle that the owners have not raised their hands and say that these are ours. However, we’ve been working with one particular gentleman, one gentleman in question, and he was there on site assisting the ministry to get the cattle across into the vehicle and taken to the site,” the minister said.
Jawahir noted that the relocated animals are now being kept in an enclosed and secure area, well away from the highway, and that arrangements are in place to ensure their ongoing care.
“They have full access to the property so they can tend to their cattle. They also have the full cooperation and support of the Ministry of Agriculture because our livestock representative is down there every single morning to ensure that they are also taken care of,” she added.
According to the minister, the Choc relocation is part of a broader strategy to tackle similar situations elsewhere on the island.
“The area is very secure, it is enclosed, and it is away from the highway. We are fully aware of other situations, for example, the Cul-de-Sac Millennium Highway, where we have other cattle, but rest assured, we are moving very quickly,” Jawahir said.
The Ministry of Agriculture has reiterated its commitment to working with livestock owners and other stakeholders to reduce hazards posed by stray animals, while ensuring proper animal welfare standards are maintained.