est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Monkey problem!

Increasingly the local monkey population has been encroaching on the human habitat. It is common place to spot the primates navigating rooftops, fences, foraging anywhere for food, even lounging in patios and swimming pools.

Along with praedial larceny and easy affordable access to water, another threat farmers have to add to challenges affecting agriculture production is the monkey problem. The Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir has been talking up a storm about progress occurring in the sector. The reality is that if you listen to the farmers the needle is not moving enough to convince onlookers that significant progress is being made.

Obviously a reasonable expectation is that it will take time if we are serious about boosting agriculture production BUT it is fair to say agriculture talk is a political narrative. In a recent review of the economy Barbados Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Kevin Greenidge confirmed the obvious, Barbados will be reliant on tourism for the foreseeable future. Daily we hear about too many problems not being solved. The latest is our inability to correctly plant sweet potatoes. There is the high cost of commercial water farmers need for irrigation, praedial larceny was noted. Of late Weir has been mouthing about a plan to implement a system of licensing to address crop theft.

Thanks to Bentley.

The blogmaster hates to be negative on this matter but it seems we making sport about developing other economic sectors. Especially in a post Covid 19 period. Obviously a small island with limited land space has to be smart by using technology to maximise the agriculture production.

The other side of the discussion is what is government, partnering with civil society players, plan to do about it. If we judge from our sloth dealing with the PSV sector, NOTHING!

110 responses to “Monkey problem!”

  1. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Cuhdear Bajan,

    I have no problem with other people culling the monkeys, if they must. I just won’t be the one doing it. Just as many who call for the death penalty would never be the executioner. 😊

    If it were up to me to kill a chicken or catch a fish, I would be a strict vegetarian.

    I do despatch the African snails though. Haven’t seen them looking cute or doing tricks on Youtube.

    My thought is that if many others weren’t as squeamish as I am about killing near human creatures, the monkeys would be gone already. I do not think international outcry or animal rights noise would stop it.

    Hence my workaround suggestion.

    But….it’s not too late for you to learn to shoot and collect the bounty, is it? 😊

  2. John2 Avatar
    John2

    Is it only the hotel owners that will benifit? How about the transportation people.=Taxis for tourist and local private and public transport. Water sports operator , restaurants, stores etc. I heard one guy in the vid thanking the pm for the little work he/ some people got leading up to the handing over of the oval.
    btw the people of Barbados own the Hilton which has been making a profit recently and Sam lords which now havta be paid for.
    How is the 50 million loan to be repaid? Is it by the tax payers or is it from revenue made over years by KOMI ?
    My understanding is that it is through Komi

  3. John2 Avatar
    John2

    Donna.

    I know where the wild life reserve is but I have never been there. I have to doubt I may be a signaling station as cotton and gun hill were Probably better if u ask John.

  4. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    John 2,

    Will do!

  5. David Avatar
    David

    @John2

    Why do you write in the superfluous? Have you seen the business plan? Of course people will benefit but are expected to discuss the benefits without seeing a business plan to critique assumptions used and therefore justify monies spent? We have to take the word of #bigworks and acolytes.

  6. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    See where ICC is spending money…….

    The Very Brief Life of a World-Class Cricket Stadium on Long Island

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/nyregion/cricket-t20-world-cup-long-island-new-york.html

  7. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    on your Mark.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2024/05/31/floodlit-stages-at-bushy-park-to-start-rally-barbados/

  8. David Avatar
    David

    To add to monkey problems:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C7pTHPvv5dv/?igsh=MTZocGwxcjVjaDYwaQ==

  9. David Avatar
    David

    Must we jump on every th bandwagon? Are any of these animal rights advocates farmers?

    “Monkey culling programme draws animal rights rebuke
    By Sheria Brathwaite
    The government programme to cull the population of green monkeys raiding crops across the island has come under heavy criticism from a global animal rights activist.
    Angered by how the monkey problem was being tackled, Dr Nedim C Buyukmihci, an American retired professor of veterinary medicine, has written the Ministry of Agriculture outlining his grievances with the culling policy and the move to increase the bounty from $15 to $25 for hunting the monkeys.
    In the letter dated March 14, seen by Barbados TODAY, Dr Buyukmihci wrote: “I am writing as a veterinarian deeply concerned about animal welfare, as well as representing Action for Primates, which campaigns on behalf of non-human primates worldwide.
    “Killing the monkeys will result in only a temporary decrease in monkey numbers. The reproductive pressure caused by killing will result in a surge of births and an increase in monkeys. This will mean a never ending outlay of funds for this scheme. This cycle will go on forever, with no permanent reduction. On the other hand, if funds, including those used for the bounty, are used to sterilise the monkeys, there will, eventually, be a permanent reduction in the number of monkeys. There may be opportunities from others willing to contribute funds and expertise to develop and implement a sterilisation programme. If the sterilisation programme is rigorously maintained, the expense involved will diminish over time. In summary, it is a false-economy to use funds to kill the monkeys as it will not result in what is desired.”
    The letter was received four days later but to date, the animal rights advocate has not been engaged on the matter.
    An emeritus professor at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Buyukmihci, who co-founded the UK-based Action for Primates and founder of the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, is opposed to the killing of animals for animal research.
    He said he was well versed in working with non-human primates, especially reproductive control and advising on humane methods of resolving negative interactions between people and non-human primates.
    Referencing research on the monkeys, he made suggestions to address the problem, including: “Tubal ligation (female sterilisation) could be done on the females and the males could be vasectomised. Although this will not immediately reduce the number of monkeys, over time there would be substantially less and occasional trapping and sterilisation would ensure that the number of monkeys remains relatively low and manageable. This approach is recommended by many people and governments and has been shown to be successful.
    Simply killing the monkeys will not work in the long run and is unconscionably cruel. It is not the fault of the monkeys that there are ‘problems’; they are not purposefully creating problems, they are just trying to live in an increasingly hostile environment. Our sense of humanity dictates that we find humane ways of co-existing.”
    Preventative measures could reduce unfavourable interactions, such as an educational campaign on “monkeyproofing” trash cans and homes, using unnatural or predator sounds to scare monkeys away, planting buffer crops, and trapping and relocating to suitable habitats far away, the animal rights activist suggested.
    Earlier this month, the ministry’s expert hunter Calvin Ifill told Barbados TODAY the island’s primate population had “drastically increased”, with an estimated 60 000-plus monkeys roaming the island. He reported that he was getting more calls from farmers and people in residential areas.
    Ifill said neutering was expensive and difficult for the government, involving trapping and medical services and “somebody still has to foot that bill”: “Then you are still faced with the problem because you are going to have to release the monkey back into the wild, and when you do that it still needs to feed.” sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb”

  10. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    LOL
    What a roll of jobby!

    “Don’t kill them, trap them ..and pay ME to sterilize them instead.
    Why pay a few dollars for a hunter to shoot a monkey, when I can make a fortune as a Vet… then release him to go and harvest some more crops..?
    Wuh I ain’t albino-centric too?”

    Only in brassbados…. and a journalist actually PRINTED that jobby as a serious article..
    Steupsss – Wuh BT could as well publish the shaving cream that BU tolerates from Kiki….

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