Dear Editor,
I've heard that the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) is euthanising animals in their care because the Government is evicting them from Winchester Road and they are unable to afford a suitable home for all the animals.
The Jamaican Government, through its Minister of Finance Peter Philips, controls the Jamaica Racing Commission which is evicting them. The horse-racing industry uses horses for profit, and frequently those unfit for racing are seen wandering along the highways and byways left to fend for themselves. I suppose the JSPCA gets the call to collect these horses. As humans who have domesticated animals, who mostly are dependent on us for their survival, we have the inescapable responsibility for their health and welfare.
The JSPCA provides affordable care for the animals belonging to many poor Jamaicans, and it is inevitable that, if they they are driven out of operation, the health of our island's animals will suffer. Indeed, as a consequence, zoonotic diseases (that is, animal diseases transmittable to us) will increase, which I am sure will make the minister of health very happy. The left hand of Government doesn't seem to know what the right hand is doing.
The stupid, short-sighted turfing out of the JSPCA from its Winchester Road location can only be seen as such -- short-sighted.
The lands of the Ministry of Agriculture at Hope, or the vast lands of King's House are more than suitable for the relocated JSPCA from what I can see from the Google Maps app. If they are allowed to use a suitable portion of the King's House lands, I am sure The Queen herself would approve. The ruminants they treat could even be employed to mow the lawn!
A responsible government would surely make a superior location available to the JSPCA, and cede it to the organisation in perpetuity. They are certainly promoting cruelty to the animals in the care of the JSPCA and the rest of Jamaica if they fail to aid in providing a suitable home for the hard-working JSPCA.
Howard Chin, PE
Member, Jamaica Institution of Engineers
hmc14 @cwjamaica.com
Gov't must not be seen as cruel to JSPCA
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I've heard that the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) is euthanising animals in their care because the Government is evicting them from Winchester Road and they are unable to afford a suitable home for all the animals.
The Jamaican Government, through its Minister of Finance Peter Philips, controls the Jamaica Racing Commission which is evicting them. The horse-racing industry uses horses for profit, and frequently those unfit for racing are seen wandering along the highways and byways left to fend for themselves. I suppose the JSPCA gets the call to collect these horses. As humans who have domesticated animals, who mostly are dependent on us for their survival, we have the inescapable responsibility for their health and welfare.
The JSPCA provides affordable care for the animals belonging to many poor Jamaicans, and it is inevitable that, if they they are driven out of operation, the health of our island's animals will suffer. Indeed, as a consequence, zoonotic diseases (that is, animal diseases transmittable to us) will increase, which I am sure will make the minister of health very happy. The left hand of Government doesn't seem to know what the right hand is doing.
The stupid, short-sighted turfing out of the JSPCA from its Winchester Road location can only be seen as such -- short-sighted.
The lands of the Ministry of Agriculture at Hope, or the vast lands of King's House are more than suitable for the relocated JSPCA from what I can see from the Google Maps app. If they are allowed to use a suitable portion of the King's House lands, I am sure The Queen herself would approve. The ruminants they treat could even be employed to mow the lawn!
A responsible government would surely make a superior location available to the JSPCA, and cede it to the organisation in perpetuity. They are certainly promoting cruelty to the animals in the care of the JSPCA and the rest of Jamaica if they fail to aid in providing a suitable home for the hard-working JSPCA.
Howard Chin, PE
Member, Jamaica Institution of Engineers
hmc14 @cwjamaica.com
Gov't must not be seen as cruel to JSPCA
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