September 18, 2016: The Agriculture Minister delivered a stirring presentation to the audience at the South Eastern Hunters Association’s 30th Annual Seminar on Saturday September 17, 2016 at the Tableland High School, Tableland.‘Be out, be seen, be available to provide the support’ is the mandate of the Minister to Officers of the Forestry Division and Praedial Larceny Squad as the opening of the Hunting Season fast approaches, noting that officers need to be ‘out, crisscrossing Trinidad and Tobago; [we must see] everyone on the ground, across the country, taking responsibility for forest management and wildlife hunting’.
Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, in his Feature Address said that he was‘very happy to see fewer people than last year at the Seminar because over the last year, I have sent a very clear signal around the country on how we as a Government intend to deal with wildlife conservation on the whole and hunting in particular’. He shared with the audience the work of the Ministry over the last year and plans for the next year, which included:
- A review of the moratorium on hunting, which ended on September 30th, 2015; particularly that any changes in hunting had to be discussed with the country and key stakeholders, with the first of such public consultations being hosted in November 2015
- An outline of the work of the Steering Committee, particularly the resultant recommendation for legislative changes in relation to fines/penalties; and management and oversight for wildlife conservation and hunting
- The re-introduction of the honorary game wardens, who as active hunters have a vested interest in protecting the wildlife; and are a vital part in role of the Ministry
- The establishment of the Wildlife Conservation Committee
The Minister assured that ‘hunting has been sustainably carried out in Trinidad and Tobago for a very long time and hunting is an important economic activity’.
Other speakers included Dr. Reza Mohammed who said in his presentation that ‘hunting is a passion’; and Mr. Mohan Bholasingh, President of the South Eastern Hunters Association.
The South Eastern Hunters Association continues its thrust in education and conservation with the hosting of this the 30th Annual Seminar. The day’s activities included lectures and demonstration on the negative and positive impacts of our wildlife by qualified persons in the field.
The Seminar commenced with the Association’s Prayer:
“Dear Lord, you are known by many names
We have gathered together today as an Association once more to carry out your wishes, to maintain the living space you created for man and other living things.
We thank you for the privilege to use the wild life resources and to understand that this resource needs protection if it is to be sustained.
We thank you for the strength and understanding displayed by our membership who has contributed so significantly to our conservation efforts. We pray that you shall give them strength and good health to continue along this pathway.
To our friends, supporters and detractors we pray that you would bless them and nourish them with information so that they too may positively contribute to our efforts in conservation.
To those poachers and trap gun hunters bless them with the understanding that their actions impact negatively on the hunting environment and can result in harm to other forest users.
Bless the administration of Trinidad and Tobago and the public with the understanding that hunters are the frontline in conservation of our wildlife species and should be supported in their many conservation ventures.
As the new hunting season is approaching, bless every hunter with the knowledge that hunting must be fair and with discretion, and that the survival of the species hunted is dependent on the hunter’s role in ensuring their survival.
Lord we pray that you shall bless the South Eastern Hunters Association and all those who have contributed for making this our annual seminar a reality.
In the many names you are called Amen.”
Also present were representatives from the South Hunters Association; Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; and twenty (20) students of the Cadet Tableland High School.
Minister Rambharat in conversation with a member of SEHA.
Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat interacts with students of theCadet at the South Eastern Hunters Association event in Tableland.
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For further information please contact:
The Communications and Events Unit
Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
868-622-1221