Cattle rustlers wreak havoc on East Coast Berbice
…one caught, escapes from New Amsterdam Hospital
Suspected cattle rustlers continue to wreak havoc in the Number 19 area with cattle farmers losing cows and other animals on a regular basis. The farmers are at their wits end and are calling on the authorities for help as cattle rustlers continue their rampage.
The latest attack on cattle occurred some time between September 11 and Wednesday September 12, last on the cattle farm of Leslie Budhoo, called Milkman and Breds of No 19 village. Two of his cows were stolen and slaughtered.
The man stated that three were initially stolen, but one managed to escape. This is the third major loss for Budhoo. There were earlier attacks just before and after Easter. Three cows were stolen on Good Friday.
A scene where the cows were slaughter in the cane fields.
Relating a similar story, his brother-in-law, Manoj, said that the man as usual penned up his cattle around 17:00 hrs on Tuesday evening at Suzannah and left for his home. On Wednesday morning he went on his usual rounds to check on his animals and to do some milking. To his shock three of his cows were missing.
One was found in the bushes not too far away while the other two could not be found. Manoj stated that his brother-in- law contacted him and together with others they decided to launch a search, but nothing was found. In the meanwhile other farmers were also crying out for losses.
Their breakthrough came on Saturday evening when they received word that some dead cows were found in the cane fields at Borlam Turn. They immediately hurried to the area where they made the gruesome discovery. Four body parts of cows at different stages of decay were found. Two cow heads, guts and skin were found, some were in a trench.
One of the cows was heavy with calf. Also found were bloodstained clothes (two shirts, one pair of trunks, one hat) apparently belonging to the thieves.
The men said that they decided to stake out the area and see if anyone will return to uplift the clothes. On Sunday morning the men on lookout saw a strange man emerging from the bushes and heading to cane fields. When he was challenged the man made a dash for it and eventually hid in the bushes.
The alarm was raised and it took the villagers of about 20 men with two vehicles about three hours to locate the man about three miles away. He was apprehended and beaten and handed over to the police. According to the residents the suspected rustler was taken to the New Amsterdam hospital where he was left unattended. The man known as, King, eventually got away from the medical institution.
Budhoo said that the cows gave at least two gallons of milks daily. One farmer stated that he lost a serving Bull. The men depend on the animals for their living and are calling on the relevant authorities to do something urgently. The residents have placed their loss at millions of dollars.
They said that they have lost goats, sheep, and poultry and are appealing for help.
One resident stated that all the Home Affairs and Agriculture Ministers are doing is just talking. They are not assisting at all. They have threatened to take matters into their own hands
I think he meant he gets about 2 gallons per day from his herd. Isn't Bolam your back yard kind of?
