Dear Editor,
The stray cattle nuisance continues to be a serious problem for the Suddie Hospital compound.
From my own observation a few days ago there were exactly twenty cows along with some goats and sheep making full use of the compound as a grazing ground. Several pipelines were damaged from trampling by the cows, and evident too was freshly spattered dung on clean linen for staff members that had been put on a line in the open air to dry; this has been said to occur very often.
Many a time, and especially at night, it is common to walk into the cow dung in the passageway or other parts of the compound. It was pointed out that some time ago, stray catchers nearby were employed and had been doing a good job, but after threats were made to them they decided not to continue any longer.
One individual was singled out for putting his cows to graze in the compound and had been repeatedly warned to keep his animals away, but it was just like throwing water on a duck’s back.
While the compound is well fenced with round-the-clock security guards at certain vantage points, there is a particular gate with no security which is usually left open and from all appearances access becomes easy for the animals at this point.
It is a well known fact that in this area only government places are used as pastures, among them being the NOC, the cemetery, the village office, the community centre, the post office, the D&I office, the police station, the public road shoulders and the sea defence and canal dams.
Yours faithfully,
Baliram Persaud
