Three in court for Scarlet Ibis hunting
Published:
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
A teenager was among three men who appeared in court yesterday charged with poaching Trinidad’s national bird, the Scarlet Ibis, at the Caroni Bird Sanctuary.
Shivanand Ramnarine, 23, of Bamboo Settlement, Valsayn, Randy Bachan, 35, and Brian Ramlochan, 18, both of El Socorro, appeared in the Chaguanas Magistrate’s Court hours after they were detained by game wardens on Monday night.
They were charged with hunting at the protected site and being in possession of the dismembered carcass of a bird.
The first charge carries a maximum fine of $20,000, while the latter carries a fine of $1,000 and up to a month imprisonment.
They were also charged with four offences of being in possession of the protected bird as the body parts — head, wings, feathers and feet — were allegedly found on their boat with no way of telling if they all came from the same animal.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges and will remain out on bail granted to them after they were arrested and charged on Monday.
The men will reappear in court on September 7.
Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat visited the sanctuary following the group’s arrest and also was present in court yesterday to show solidarity to the game wardens who fall under his ministry.
In an interview with CNC3 after the case was adjourned, Rambharat said that he was currently in discussions with Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi over the possibility of increasing the fines for possession of the protected animal.
“It is inadequate but what happens is that persons are usually arrested in game sanctuaries where the protected birds are found,” Rambharat said.
He said that he was also working closely with his ministry’s six enforcement units to ensure that they had all the resources required to effectively perform their duties.
3 in court for having scarlet ibis carcasses* Published on Aug 15, 2017, 10:36 pm AST
By Alexander Bruzual
Three men appeared before a Chaguanas magistrate yesterday, after they were allegedly held with carcasses of the scarlet ibis—the national bird.
The accused have been identified as 23-year-old Shivanand Ramnarine, of Bamboo Settlement, 35-year-old Randy Bachan and 18-year-old Brian Ramlogan, both of El Socorro.
They all appeared before Magistrate Wendy Dougdeen Bally yesterday in the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court, where they were faced with five charges, including four charges of being in possession of a prohibited/protected animal, and one charge of being in a protected area without a licence.
The boat and engine used in the alleged poaching expedition were seized and brought to court as evidence, with feathers visible on the vessel.
