With an estimated 25,000 unlicensed dogs in New Providence alone, The Ministry of Tourism is seeking to work closely with the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Control Unit, to curtail this escalating problem.
Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchombe, told The Bahama Journal that he has been inundated with emails and letters from concerned persons around the world, complaining about the stray dog problem in the country.
“They are asking the government to move with haste to deal with the situation,” said Minister Wilchombe.
According to the minister, Deputy Director General of Tourism, Vernice Walkine, who is responsible for product development, will be heading the ministry’s team in addressing the matter.
Recently during debate on the package of e-commerce legislation, the Shadow Minister of Tourism, Brent Symonette urged the government to put a dent in the stray dog situation.
Minister Wilchombe acknowledged that the stray dog problem has been a lingering problem in the Bahamas, particularly here in Nassau, but it is one that his ministry is seeking to reduce.
While in the House of Assembly, Minister Wilchombe referred to a report produced by the Inter Agency Committee eight years ago. The committee encompasses members of various government ministries.
“It became an agenda item at the inception of the Inter Agency Committee some eight years ago. Not last week – eight years ago. And you know who was in charge eight years ago,” questioned Minister Wilchombe, alluding to the fact that this report was produced under the Free National Movement administration.
Referring to the report, Minister Wilchombe noted that the committee’s findings showed that there is a lack of cooperation from the local population and dogs are allowed to roam freely.
A major finding by the committee according to the tourism minister, was what they considered to be a “lack of modern laws and penalties” in place regarding ownership and licensing of dogs. It was added that there is a need for government or private sponsored spaying and neutering programs.
However, Manager of the Humane Society, Stephen Turnquest, told The Bahama Journal that the organization hopes to revitalize the ‘Responsible Animal Owner’ program which allows for free spaying. Mr. Turnquest is aiming to begin the program again on February 17th in Bain Town.
Mr. Turnquest clarified that stray dogs have no owners and roaming dogs are those which do just that – roam – but do have owners. Nevertheless, they all contribute to the escalating number of unlicensed dogs on the streets.
Additionally, the Inter Agency Committee’s report according to Minister Wilchombe stated that there was a lack of equipment including traps and vehicles to slash the stray dog problem.
“The dogs need to be trapped, but in the past when the dogs were trapped particularly in areas frequented by tourists, the Ministry of Agriculture received negative responses to the trappings and sometimes the dogs would be freed from the traps by sympathetic persons. It is more effective to catch the dogs at night,” he said.
But the challenge for the Ministry of Agriculture at the time, stated Minister Wilchombe, was a lack of budget for overtime and inefficient manpower.
“At one of the early Inter Agency committees, it was recommended that temporary or part-time employees be engaged for this specific purpose, however it was advised that the persons would need to be specially trained. So you know what happened? Nothing happened eight years ago and now we talking about we can’t find resolutions,” he charged.
Minister Wilchombe reaffirmed his determination to have his ministry work with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal Control Unit, to decrease the number of dogs roaming the streets, particularly in tourist locations.
By Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
