OUTSISDE THE PULPIT: Thumbs up to police on crop charges

Article by REV. ERRINGTON MASSIAH

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The strife is o’er, the battle done; Now is the Victor’s triumph won; O let the song of praise begun. Alleluia!

Death’s mightiest powers have done their worst, And Jesus hath His foes dispersed;

Let shouts of praise and joy outburst.

Alleluia! – Hymn 135 – Ancient & Modern Verse 1 and 2

LAST WEEK was a victory for the farming community and the agricultural sector in Barbados as a whole when three sweet potato thieves were taken before the courts and sentenced to 12 months, 18 months and two years, respectively, at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds. Also, a woman was charged with not having a certificate of purchase for the 178 kilogrammes of sweet potatoes in her possession.

The police have their manpower challenges, but they appear to be tightening the noose on those involved in the burgeoning problem of crop theft.

No matter how small it may have appeared, a victory is still a victory. I hope that sending those thieves to prison will deliver a very strong message to the others out there.

I am sure that there is still a lot more that can be done by the police with the limited resources they have. Vendors along the roadside, for example, should be questioned on their ownership of the agricultural produce, including sugar cane, that they are selling.

Crop theft is no less an offence than any other and it is necessary that the guilty ones are brought to justice. Farmers toil in their fields from sunup to sundown and it is unfair and unjust that thieves feel it is okay to reap the sweets of another person’s labour.

Make no mistake; agriculture is hard work and farmers must be protected from the crop thieves.

Those who believe they can walk on to a farmer’s land and steal his or her crops and sometimes livestock as well, need to answer for their crimes.

Magistrate Christopher Birch, we the public are supporting you for not giving those potatoes thieves a slap on their hands. We are behind you.

Moravian T20 cricket

The Rev Rudolph Holder Tape Ball T20 Cricket Competition of the Moravian Church continues today at the James Bryan Pavilion, Market Hill, St George with Combined CCF Moravian vs Sharon Moravian at 7 p.m.

Moravian Youth ConventionThe Moravian Church annual youth convention will be held on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Calvary Moravian Church, Roebuck Street, Bridgetown.

Fairs

• The St Lawrence Church will be holding a fair at the Dover Playing Field tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• The St Matthew Anglican Church will be holding its annual fair tomorrow at the Harold Nurse Centre, St Michael from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• The health ministry of the St Patrick’s Anglican Church will be holding a health fair tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the church grounds.

• The St Catherine Church will be holding its annual fair on Monday, May 2, on the grounds of the St Catherine Sports Club, Bayfield, St Philip from 12 noon to 8 p.m.

Concert

The All Souls Anglican Church Mothers’ Union will hold its annual concert on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Car boot and tent sale The James Street Methodist Church will be holding a car boot and tent sale on Saturday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Family fun dayThe St Philip Parish Church will be holding a family fun day as part of the activities for its 180th anniversary on Monday, May 2, at King George V Memorial Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Anniversary and Mothers’ Day luncheon

The Vauxhall Methodist Church will hold an anniversary a Mother’s Day Luncheon on Sunday, May 8, at the Sea Rocks Dome, Barbados Beach Club, Maxwell Coast Road, Christ Church from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

St Mark’s patronal festival

The St Mark’s Anglican Church will hold its patronal festival from Sunday to May 1.

On Sunday at 8 a.m., there will be a joint service of sung Eucharist and procession with congregation of St Catherine’s. At 6 p.m. at evensong and procession, the preacher will be Rev Anthony Harewood, the priest in charge of Holy Innocents Church. Services from Monday to Friday will be at 7:30 p.m.

Feast of title and patronal festival |The St Philip Parish Church will be observing its feast of title and patronal festival from May 1 to 8, with the theme: Being A Beacon of Christ’s Presence In the Community: Building Up The Family Of God.