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Last Updated: Dec 29, 2011 - 2:18:31 AM |
Dear Sirs:
We have been awaiting your further response to our communications that began in mid 2010 regarding our financial position, our request for Government funding, and our inability to continue providing animal control services for the non-bonded areas of Grand Bahama. Our last communication from you on this subject was in December of 2010.
We would be grateful for immediate, honest answers to the following:
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Will or will not Government assist with any funding for HSGB to provide animal services to the out areas of Grand Bahama?
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What is your Department's and/or the Bahamas Veterinary Association's plan to replace our field spay/neuter programme on Grand Bahama?
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Are there any plans or target dates for implementation of the new Animal Protection and Control Act?
Your Department allowed the Bahamas Veterinary Association (although they are not afforded that authority under the law) to put a stop to foreign volunteer veterinarians working at our Eight Mile Rock spay/neuter clinic in February of this year. This effectively put an end to our humane efforts to control the animal population in West and East Grand Bahama.
We assumed that since your Department and the Bahamas Veterinary Association objected to foreign vets volunteering their time and expertise to assist, there must be a plan in place to deal with the pet overpopulation problem on Grand Bahama yourselves. Four months later, we are quite anxious to hear what this plan is and when it will commence.
We were thrilled a year ago by the passage of the Animal Protection and Control Act 2009. Obviously we celebrated too soon as the Act has not been enacted. It took ten years to get it passed; will it take another ten years to implement?
We are doing our best to stay afloat in these difficult economic times and hope to continue serving the animals and communities of Grand Bahama. We are currently fighting a losing battle, without even minimal support from the very Government Department responsible for animal issues. We heard about the new jobs programme and our first thought was that this could be an ideal opportunity to fund the start up of the provisions of the new Animal Protection and Control Act that will require staffing. Is this even on the table? If not, why not?
We simply need to know whether there is any hope in the immediate future for tangible support and assistance from your Department, indeed from Government, for us to continue doing what is actually your responsibility here on Grand Bahama. Your response will be invaluable in guiding our decisions regarding our organization's future direction.
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Yours truly,
Tip Burrows, Executive Director
On behalf of The Humane Society of Grand Bahama Board of Directors
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