Chickens not the target of new conservation rules

| 03/02/2023 | 122 Comments
Feral chickens on Grand Cayman, Cayman News Service
Feral chickens on Grand Cayman

(CNS): No one is going to jail for feeding animals in their own yards, even wild chickens, the Department of Environment has said. The regulations relating to the control of alien species come into force today, but over the last week social media has exploded with misinformation about the new rules, which have been drawn up for the purpose of protecting Cayman’s endemic and native species, many of which are under serious threat from a multitude of problems, not least invasive species.

The new rules have come under fire from members of the public, including complaints about the programme in the Sister Islands to cull feral cats, which are pushing native species, such as nesting sea birds and rock iguanas, to the brink of local extinction. There have also been many misleading comments about the penalties for feeding feral animals, but the DoE says the regulations are not about punishing people for feeding chickens.

The new rules are directed at the conservation of native species, many of which are under threat, according to Fred Burton, the manager of the DoE Terrestrial Resource Unit. “There are so many threats and pressures on our native wildlife. It is a bit bewildering, really, as we are dealing with massive loss of habitat as the islands develop and we are dealing with big global issues like climate change… that could have really complicated impacts on our native ecosystems. But alien species are the number two threat globally,” he stated recently.

Scientists at the DoE accept that the issues of over-development and climate change pose serious threats to the natural world, but they say that invasive species pose a direct risk to many plants and animals that Caymanians hold dear. While the DoE does not have the power to control population growth, excessive development or even to stop people from clearing mangroves once they have planning permission, it can at least use the National Conservation Law to tackle this major threat to wildlife.

While the maximum penalties many appear draconian when compared to much older legislation, such as the Animals Law, the most severe punishments will be reserved for those who have committed the most egregious offences where unique, endangered species like the blue iguana are deliberately put at risk from the release of alien species into protected habitat.

A spokesperson for the DoE said that the penalties, which can be as much as $500,000 or four years in jail for the most serious offences, cover a range of infractions, such as damaging natural habitat in a protected area, anchoring on coral illegally, lifting starfish out of the water and poaching conchs from a marine park. When a person is convicted, the sentences meted out will be based on the circumstances of the offence and the offender, based on the judge’s discretion.

“The general principle of the maximum penalty is to allow judges to sentence within a law as they feel is appropriate to the particulars of an individual case and to account for the worst possible hypothetical cases of infraction under the law,” a DoE representative told CNS.

The DoE does not expect that any judge would ever give the maximum penalty for this kind of infraction, given the way the same potential maximum penalty has so far been applied by the courts to other offences under the law. “If we look at how judges have sentenced in the worst cases of poaching under the Marine Park Regulations, for example, we will see people fined a few thousand dollars or less. Certainly not ‘draconian’ punishments, as so often gets suggested of these laws.”

The Alien Species Regulations include lower penalties for specific situations. The feeding of alien species, the offence that has stirred up social media, clearly provides for much lesser penalties. “Feeding or supporting alien or genetically altered species in the wild” would receive only a warning for a first offence, and a maximum fine of $5,000 for a repeat offence. The maximum financial penalties or potential jail time could only be considered for habitual offenders who deliberately feed feral populations in the wild.

The provision against the feeding of alien species in the wild (not on any owner’s property) came into effect Friday, 3 February, but the department plans a traditional period to “educate and inform” before any enforcement actually takes place.

“No one is coming to people’s yards tomorrow to charge them with feeding feral cats or chickens,” the DoE stressed. “But while feeding animals in the wild may not be considered a serious offence comparatively, the impact unmanaged populations of invasive animals have on our native habitat is indeed serious.” The DoE hopes that the new rules establish the seriousness of the impact of these offences, and help shift public thinking on these practices.

The regulations, which were provided for in the National Conservation Act, have been many years in the making and fill the gap in the legislative framework for managing the risks posed by invasive species. The current premier, Wayne Panton, introduced the law to protect Cayman’s natural environment in 2013 when he was the environment minister. However, because of the backlash from the development sector, this critical legislation has been rolled out very slowly over the last decade.

When he was premier during the last administration, Sir Alden McLaughlin referred to the NCA in parliament as “ridiculous” and threatened to gut it.

At every step of the law’s implementation, the DoE has faced critics on both sides of the debate. Conservationists criticise the department for not doing enough, regardless of its size, budget and legal limitations, while others accuse the DoE of over-stepping its remit. Nevertheless, the department remains one of the few government entities that make the technical advice it gives to other public entities, such as the CPA and Cabinet, also available to the people.


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Category: Land Habitat, Science & Nature

Comments (122)

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  1. Go Local says:

    Chicken also takes care of cockroaches and scorpions that would come into the house.
    They can be put on coop and is more resilient than GM imports.

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  2. Use What we have says:

    Conservation mean proper use of the resources. They should be selling cats to who want them and teach people how to eat the iguanas and chicken eggs.

    I know someone who feeds about 14 hens with corn & Layer pellet (natural antibiotic aloe & garlic ). Between Nov 2022 and Feb 2023 the collected over 10 dozen eggs. This is proper use and controlling numbers.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    When a septic tank overflows onto the surface because it wasn’t built right, the first creature to come and eat is chickens. So you go ahead and eat those wonderful eggs and chickens. We all know a lot of people skimp and saved by just putting an elbow a few feet into the ground because wells are very expensive.
    Remember chickens like other birds eat insects like cock roaches and worms. If you want to save money go to the people who have farms they will offer a better price than grocery stores. They are kept in a cooped fed chicken feed .
    Somebody a long time ago let go of chickens and that was okay then but we need to control these pests who destroy fruits and vegetables. Did you know that chickens pluck habanero peppers, starfruit, ackee and other fruits and vegetables. Plants in pots are also scratched by chickens to look for worms? I say if you want them come and get them wherever you see plants in peoples yards.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Protect the mosquitos

  5. Anonymous says:

    If anything needs to be culled on the Islands are chickens/roosters. They managed to eat 100’s of the apples off my tree before they were even close to ready to be picked. If I don’t pick my ackee as soon as they open, they are gone. No open windows at night because roosters crow all night. They invite themselves to my food when eating at outside venues so have to throw them fries otherwise they jump on the table. Could I be charged because I’m not on my property?

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    • Anonymous says:

      How do the chickens eat the apples off your tree before they are picked? Do you mean off the ground before you pick them up, or do you have seriously small apple trees?

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  6. Anonymous says:

    God wanted there to only be two of each remember.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Compass calls feral cats and chicken “Pets”.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah, confusing.

      You can feed pets, but feral 🐈cats, 🐕dogs and 🐓🐔chicken are NOT pets. Who then one is allowed to feed?

      A Pet: a domestic or tamed animal kept for companionship or pleasure. 🐩, 🐕‍🦺,🐇,

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  8. Anonymous says:

    The community oddballs that can’t help but insert their “benevolent controller actions” into the spokes of a common neighborhood pest containment project, should buy a houseplant, or talk to a professional about their unaddressed maternal, esteem, and worthiness issues. In the first session they’d probably unlock some repressed shit much deeper than just feeding crowing 4am nuisance chickens. Nevertheless, fairly safe to assume their neighbors would very much like them to cease and desist, or seek help. HSA should setup a special 1-345-CAT-LADY hotline for kooks that either fancy there aren’t enough roosters, and/or persist to the point of actually getting ticketed.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    You can go to jail for driving without insurance. Know anyone that has?

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  10. Anonymous says:

    The chickens need to go. They are the most invasive species on this island.

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  11. Sick of stupid says:

    Why not target the actual persons responsible for the problem ? The greedy developers , and their friends in government who are the actual cause? I know why, as does everyone else. No accountability, let’s just shift blame. Surely it is ‘Mitten’s’ fault. That kitty always had an agenda.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Simple cull the cats and leave the chickens be.

    The cats are destroying endangered species that are native to the Cayman Islands not the chickens.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    In a world not far from here,
    Where chickens and cats roamed free,
    The Government came with a fear,
    That caused them to flee.

    They heard the rumors and tales,
    Of the Government’s dark intent,
    So they packed their bags with sails,
    And started their journey spent.

    They ran through the fields so green,
    With their heads held high in the air,
    Hoping to find a place serene,
    Where freedom would always be there.

    The cats chased after the hens,
    And the hens flapped their wings with glee,
    For they knew that the friendship between,
    Was all that they needed to be free.

    Together they crossed the mountains high,
    And swam through the rivers deep,
    Dodging the Government’s watchful eye,
    In search of a place to sleep.

    And as they reached the end of their quest,
    They found a place that was just right,
    Where they could live in peace and rest,
    Far from the Government’s sight.

    So the chickens and cats roam free,
    In a world filled with love and laughter,
    Knowing they will forever be free,
    From the Government’s capture.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Now could you write a poem about how our native blue iguanas are forced to live in small wire cages while people are hired to spend hours daily picking leaves for them to eat so they don’t get killed by cats?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Oh native blue iguana, so bright and bold,
        A beauty of the island, with scales of gold.
        Yet in captivity, your life is but a cage,
        Of wire and mesh, your spirit does engage.

        No more the sun on your skin, no more the breeze,
        No more the freedom to wander, at ease.
        Instead, you’re captive, in a world so small,
        Where leaves are picked, to avoid a cat’s call.

        Your keepers are hired, to tend to your needs,
        With daily pickings, of leaves and weeds.
        They offer sustenance, to keep you alive,
        In a world so cruel, that denies you life.

        Oh native blue iguana, how we’ve failed you so,
        To take from your freedom, and place you on show.
        In this tiny cage, we’ve trapped your soul,
        And watched as your spirit, begins to grow old.

        But still, you hold on, with grace and with might,
        A symbol of hope, in a world that’s not right.
        And though you are captive, your spirit will soar,
        For in our hearts, you’ll forever live more.

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    • Anon says:

      I cannot believe you wasted time on writing this silly poem. I truly do not understand everyone who would prefer that chickens and cats are left alone in these scenarios.
      I am a vegetarian, and I honestly do not believe in animal cruelty. I also recognise that there is an animal kingdom and a natural order to things. Chickens and cats were raised/domesticated for humans’ amusement and food. It is our responsibility to care for them, but we also have to recognise their threat to natural, endemic species in Cayman. Currently cats are the biggest threat to this. It is scientifically proven and DOE has been trying to say this. No one is listening, because for some reason we are too concerned with the poor cats. What about the poor birds/wildlife? Diversity is humanity’s best method for survival in climate change. We need to stop sticking our heads in the sand about climate change. It is real and as an island below sea level, we are some of the most at risk. Yes, development plays a part and yes I agree we should have rules and laws in place, but this is a simple law that will give an immediate relief and increase to biodiversity.
      A simple way to deal with the stray animals is to have rules/laws in place that all pets need to be neutered and kept in their yards, except for when they are taken for walks on a leash. If an animal is caught outside of its yard and is not fixed, then there should be a fine. Most of the animals will then be spayed or neutered and within 5-10 years it will not be a problem. Any other dogs should have to have a breeder’s licence and there should be rules for that as well. Some dogs are being bred over and over and it’s completely unfair and disgusting that that’s all they do. Also, it would stop the dangerous dogs on the island, as currently no pit bull can be imported, so those are being bred. Simple, any dog on the dangerous dog list will not be given a breeder’s licence and again we can stop the increase in dangerous dogs and dogs without homes.
      Simple solutions, but none of the animal charities petition for that. They are more concerned with culling cats than actual solutions to this problem.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Anon,

        The poem was written in 3 second(courtesy of ChatGPT).
        A Poster requested a poem about the imprisonment of the Blue Iguanas due to the feral cats. I did (well ChatGPT did).

        Anyways, my poem post was about entertainment rather than commenting on the serious matter of these invasive species.

        As to not dribble on, I’ll just say, my true sentiments are the same as yours.

        Thanks for your post.

    • Hilda says:

      Who is the author of this poem? It’s lovely 🙂

  14. Civilian says:

    the cayman islands, the only place where feeding an animal is a more severe crime than importing guns and drugs. 500,000 for feeding, 20,000 for guns priorities seem aligned with our beliefs yeah. keep the ones bringing in the money happy and the rest don’t matter. happy christian society.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    The punishment, in a logical and fair society, should be commensurate with the crime. How is four years in jail remotely comparable to the “harm” from a few chickens wandering about? Are they spreading a deadly disease that is killing people? Are they obstructing traffic and causing deadly road accidents? It seems that they are just a nuisance, and no rational legislator would attempt to destroy someone’s life for feeding some birds.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    I own a condo in a complex. My understanding is…it is a private property however, I only owns what is under my roof, does that mean if I feed some chickens on the grass area inside of the property or the parking lot, I’m breaking the law?

    How about the tourists that comes off the cruise ship and feed the chickens, will they be also prosecuted? Welcome to the Cayman Islands…here is a fine of 5k for feeding a chicken on the road “non private property”.

    I must say I don’t know the history of any country but I’m 99.9% sure that the chickens were already in most of the countries before we arrived.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you feed the chickens in my complex, I will have you locked up.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You guys always bring your chicken shit here. We are farmers we lose too much to unrestricted chickens. Come on DOE strap on some balls.

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    • Anonymous says:

      up to $500,000

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    • Anonymous says:

      “I must say I don’t know the history of any country but I’m 99.9% sure that the chickens were already in most of the countries before we arrived.”

      No, you do not know this history of most countries.

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    • Anon says:

      Chickens are not native to most countries, neither are cows. Cows, chickens, cats and dogs have been domesticated for our amusement and food.

      As this happened so many thousands of years ago, we can consider them now just a part of every country, but it is because of humans’ intervention that chickens are in most countries.

      It’s the same idea as when sailors used to sail to the West Indies and Pacific and then transport different types of fruit trees and animals back and forth. A lot of the trees in Jamaica and Cayman are originally from South East Asia, like ackee, breadfruit etc.

      So it’s not correct to say that chickens were already in most countries.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    I fed a chicken yesterday. Will continue to do so.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Rebel

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    • Anonymous says:

      The entitled Caymanian has entered the chat.

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    • Mumbichi says:

      I made a wonderful rich, flavourful chicken stock today, and later used the meat — along with carrots, onions, peas, spices, corn starch, flour — to make four chicken pot pies.

      I have made a rudimentary enclosure, and enticed a rooster and several hens into occupying it. None of them are as plump as store-bought chickens, however they lack the growth hormone and antibiotics of their farmed relatives.

      Roosters stew as well as hens, as long as they aren’t really old; old roosters’ flesh looks almost purple, and is somewhat tough. Still, they stew well. Consider roosters to be all ‘dark’ meat, including the breast meat. Tasty, all of them.

      I will invite others into my enclosure of doom, feed them and eat them.

      The good Lord provides, if you let Him.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You write too well to be trapping and eating wild chickens. I am thoroughly confused.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Conditioned to neatly packaged consumer units of tender generically modified chicken, of course, most will find free-range naturally grown foul to be tough. If you allow those imported layers/fryers to grow past six weeks they start to mutate into stringy mutants. I for one love to hear the rooster crow, and would find it foreign without the morning din.

  18. Anonymous says:

    DOE already showed their hand, we know what to do with them next time for them to be declawed and certain committee’s to have a membership reshuffle.

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  19. MERVYN CUMBER says:

    This idea that feral chickens is a “Cayman traditional” is nonsense! It all came about after “Ivan”. If some one would like to get rid of the chickens in my yard, they will get healthy “bounty”!

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    • Anonymous says:

      The chickens have been around forever. I had chickens growing up and I’m 52 years old. My father had chickens and he would be 97 years old if he was alive today.

      Instead of talking stupid foolishness about not feeding them, government should be catching some and having a communal farm.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Great idea – get maybe all the Cuban refugees can feed them. Hey, we could destroy a few hundred acres of mangrove to make all this happen. Now you’re talking. Please run for public office we need more of your practical ideas.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You don’t need to dig up mangroves. Geez, we have so many stupid people.

          I’m too honest to run for office. I won’t be wasting government money nor buying you all washing machines so I won’t get any votes anyway.

      • Anonymous says:

        52 years is not forever. Humans brought chickens and cats here within the last few hundred years.

        Blue iguanas have lived here at least TWO MILLION years.

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      • Anonymous says:

        It’s wild fowl they talking bout here, not the ones people keep and look after in their own yard.

    • Anonymous says:

      Everyone used to have a hen house. That was where you got fresh meat and eggs back then when there were no big grocery stores.

  20. Anonymous says:

    If you made it illegal to catch them, they’d be near extinction in a couple years and the DOE would be demanding chicken friendly lighting at all new developments.

    #thatscayman

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  21. Anonymous says:

    How about picking up the f’ing garbage that’s all over every road on this rock. forget the chickens

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    • Anonymous says:

      Funny you say that. Seems to be epidemic. Israel and UK are both filthy. Garbage is strewn on the sides of the road. It is shocking.

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    • Anonymous says:

      True. Also, chickens and dogs are always in the bins near me they make a real mess. Bin lids are all it takes to stop that. We could all do our bit.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That’s the responsibility of DEH…👀

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      • Anonymous says:

        Its everbody’s responsibility!

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        • Anonymous says:

          Yes, it is. I witnessed a woman walking and drinking a beer as I was putting my recycling in the bins in West Bay, and as she walked by me she threw her empty bottle in the bushes!! No care for her country at all!

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, however feeding and keeping your dogs at HOME, instead of rooting through garbage is the responsibility of the half-assed owners.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If only. Maybe clean up the rubbish before cutting the grass and weeds too?

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Picture says “feral chickens”.
    Looks like a tighter family than most in Cayman.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    The number 1 threat is development. The number 2 threat is invasive species (not sure how the chickens were considered invasive, but…). The government’s reaction: target the lesser of the two threats instead of dealing with the major threat. But who’s brave enough to go up against the “Foreign Investor” and “Developer” gods? Certainly not this “environmental friendly” government.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    They the target of my truck though.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    Inflation, increased insurance rates, possible home foreclosures, sub-standard education, corruption in public circles, no working public transportation thus traffic congestion; archaic waste management, overpopulation (by people) and YET our Government finds time for this SHIT??!!

    Only in Cayman!

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    • Anonymous says:

      DOE worked on and lobbied for the Law they needed to do their Jobs, so the other agencies responsible for those other issues need to do the same.

      Go complain to Department of Planning, Department of Public Transport, Department of Environmental Health, Ministry of Finance, Department of Education and the others responsible for each individual aspect of Caymans development.

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  26. Anonymous says:

    Then why pass the stupid law? Leave the chickens alone. The government is going to regret this decision.
    https://www.thebulletin.be/adopt-chicken-etterbeek
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8539877.stm

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  27. Anonymous says:

    focus on traffic violations! every morning it’s a gamble on your life from 6am.

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Doe is in a tough spot because as mentioned each side criticizes them pretty thoroughly no matter what they do.

    That said there is some serious low hanging fruit clearly in their remit which they fail miserably to act on and that paints the whole operation with a brush of ineptitude that colors the perception of all their work.

    Rampant poaching of lobster conch etc needs cracking down on and people to be made examples of. Dumping of bulk waste into our ecosystem, often on camera with no penalty (RCIPS fault as well).

    Constant overreach on CPA stuff which 99% of the time has no leg to stand on.

    They need to focus on what’s in their lane and get that fixed first…then look at changing lanes. Right now they’re just doing whatever the heck they feel like at the moment with no clear direction or vision and failing at all of it. They’re flying high because Wayne filled them with false (wildly false) promises of power and a seat at the table. How’s solar coming these days???

    Do one thing right and then add the next thing and do that right too. Currently just a mess.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You make good points.

      Littering however, is the remit of DEH. The Litter Law is very easily reviewed and not a long piece of Legislation.

      There are many Laws which need to be enforced locally, but the individual Government Agencies responsible for those Laws frequently side step their responsibilities and attempt to pass them onto other agencies.

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    • Mumbichi says:

      DOE lacks a solid enforcement arm; they have promulgated laws and policies, but who is to make it stick? The Marine arm of the DOE does okay, however even they lack legislative support. Many of us believe that whatever we want to take from the sea is ours to take, just as our ancestors did. DOE would like to enforce a standard, however their budget doesn’t allow for NEARLY the enforcement personnel required to do the job. Selah.

      If we want standards across the board, we must accept that everyone should be EQUAL IN THE EYES OF THE LAW, and for some that is a terrible pill to swallow.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    What idiots do we have drafting legislation? The logic of a ridiculously high penalty that will never be enforced to give judges discretion to charge whatever they want could be applied to all illegal activities. Let this one get to the world press and we will once again be a laughing stock. I would pay much more attention if the penalty was $5,000. All a $500,000 fine makes me want to do is feed a chicken and film it just for grins.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Do it. Go ahead and do it. I mean, who’s stopping you. Just go out into the middle of GT with a bag of chicken feed and dump it on the road infront of people. Be the Guinea pig for the rest of us.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Let us know when, I’d like to come and watch!

    • Mumbichi says:

      I get your wretched angst, however I must sadly conclude that you are part of the problem.

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  30. Thrive says:

    Amongst others, common parasites found in wild fowl are mites, lice, and ticks. diseases include Newcastle disease, avian influenza, and fowlpox. Do you still think they are cute? Suggestion: Round them up, pen them in at agriculture and on farms and sell affordable eggs. Isn’t that a sensible, sustainable solution?

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    • Anonymous says:

      And with the current egg prices, this is a logical suggestion. Logical… which is why our Ministers have no clue of how to incorporate such an easy suggestion. #Caymaneducatedministers.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We don’t have anything here but fowlpox and you can’t get that from them. I would worry more about the diseases humans are spreading. Leave the chickens alone.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Oh, so you’re OK with mites, lice and ticks, and all the disease they can bring?

        • Anonymous says:

          I would worry more about what those chemical laden ones from United States has. I haven’t seen lice, mites or ticks on any chickens around here.

    • Anonymous says:

      Avian flu has killed over 200 million birds worldwide to date, so mother nature will tend to chickens and the other birds soon.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    Hopefully people will not be discouraged from getting pets and feral cats they feed from being spayed / neutered.

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  32. Anonymous says:

    Just last week the DoE were lecturing us about being scientists when it comes to invasive species culls. But now walking that back with chickens. Feral chickens are not wildlife. They do damage to property, cause nuisance noise, and carry disease.Trap and cull, and fine anyone that tampers with the traps until it’s under control.

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  33. Anonymous says:

    The chickens need to go, especially the roosters.

    They are out of control and make a huge mess.

    If you are pro chicken post your address so we can drop them at your house.

    We culled a million iguanas and the chickens run around unchecked!

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  34. Anonymous says:

    This is the perfect example of this 10th world dump we call home.

    We have a pest problem, that problem happens to be Chickens. Rather than try to come up with way to encourage ending this pest once and for all, they come up with “don’t feed them in public”.

    AS IF CHICKENS ARE ONLY LIVING BECAUSE SOME DUMB CRUISE SHIPPER IS FEEDING THEM!!

    These things breed, shit everywhere, spread disease, encourage other pests, damage property, cause noise disturbance and the solution is “do not feed them” fucking hell, sign me up right now for Government, get me on the boards. I can do this, I will do this job, for free, right now.

    Give me 12 months, and a department that isn’t full of obstructive vote chasing status holders and I will have dealt with the chicken, throw in the stupid traffic offences as well.

    That will never happen. Our Jamaican politicians need the votes – hell, half their voters are probably only surviving on the feral chickens to begin with.

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  35. Anonymous says:

    Wayne will not stop until it is illegal to pop an almond seed or pick a mango. The DOE threw a big party when he became premier, remember I told you that!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why say that bro? You know how many almond trees they have destroyed so far on the extension of the east west bypass? Soon the excavator will be destroying the mangroves.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The hurricane and inland flooding damage will be epic now without mangroves and filled in flood plains.

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  36. Anonymous says:

    Everyone: “boo hoo, everything is too expensive, can’t afford rent, will never be able to buy property, it’s all someone else’s fault.

    A handful of idiots: “oh look, some chickens and cats that aren’t mine, let me run to the supermarket and buy them some organic food”.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No one buys chickens organic food. They give them leftovers plus you can get eggs. That’s saving money. Pressure cooker and you have your meat.

  37. Anonymous says:

    Fine the lady who keeps feeding the chickens next to Sunset House (and my next door neighbour)

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  38. Anonymous says:

    But what does the chickens do?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Cross the road. Amongst other things.

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    • Mumbichi says:

      The wild chickens make a lovely repast; no growth hormones, antibiotics or other additives. We have two options when electing to eat them: 1) segregate them and feed them until ‘cleansed’ or 2) only take and eat chickens from known areas — places where you know what they eat.

      We eat lots of them in our family. Skin isn’t as tasty as commercially raised chickens due to an absolute lack of fat (except when the hens are preparing for laying). We love stewing meats here. Stew(ed) chicken is a delight, and feral game are well-suited for this preparation method. Onions, seasoning peppers, garlic, thyme, scotch bonnet, carrots, ginger, salt, pepper, pimento seed, browning, chicken stock, rice an’ peas, breadfruit salad, wonderful.

      Make yourselves a chicken trap, catch, kill and clean them, and solve your own problem. If you’re of the farming type, you might make an enclosure with a coop and gather eggs.

      I fear that these solutions are going to become more and more necessary in the near future. Either way, it’s a good thing to convert a nuisance into food.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Go to KFC to eat plenty.

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    • Anonymous says:

      cross the road🙂

  39. Anonymous says:

    I feel that roosters should be culled like the green iguanas. Every head handed in should attract a small reward. Over time the wild chicken population would simply decrease.

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  40. Anonymous says:

    They all need to to jail. For life. Just stop feeding the damn things.

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    • Anonymous says:

      *go

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    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman Kind

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    • Anonymous says:

      Stop feeding the real damn human criminals and politicians running around and put them away for life!

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    • Anonymous says:

      The chickens are survivors. Never forget that they are the modern incarnation of dinosaurs.

      Stopping feeding them will not kill them. Only killing them will kill them. If you are going to kill them, you might as well eat them. No foo-foo for you.

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  41. Anonymous says:

    Oh OK, now we understand. Yet another set of laws put in place that won’t be enforced, and we’re all told that as soon as it comes on the books.
    What is the bloody point of all this? Why don’t our government actually fix some of the actual real life problems we are all facing due to their failure to act?

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    • smh says:

      And what does culling chickens have to do with bettering our economy ?!!

      Some of you people have nothing better to do than to chase folk feeding chickens.

      THE WHOLE THING IS REDICULOUS.

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