By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THE cancellation of Operation Potcake was the result of local veterinarians refusing to support foreign experts who had volunteered to spay and neuter stray animals, according to Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, following the government’s endorsement of the project, Mr Gray explained that the Christie administration was not responsible for scrapping the programme.
He said January’s Operation Potcake was needed in order to control the stray animal problem.
“It’s nothing to do with the government,” Mr Gray said. “It’s about the foreign vets not wanting to have a problem with the local vets who object. So I am going to meet with representatives from both sides as soon as it is possible to do so to see if I can iron out the programme. Because we do need that programme to continue.
“They (local vets) have not complained to me because we license them and we also license the foreign vets to come in and assist with the programme. So the fact that it has been cancelled is perhaps only because they do not want the foreigners to come in to assist.
“But they (local vets) are not volunteering to do anything either. So it seems to me that if they are objecting to the foreigners coming in to assist with the spay and neutering programme, they should pick up the slack and give something back to their country.”
On Monday, Animal Balance – an international organisation – cautioned that the Bahamas’ stray animal problem might possibly never be resolved if government officials listen to local veterinarians.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Perry Christie, the group advised that Operation Potcake (OP)– which uses the expertise of volunteers specifically trained in high volume spays and neuters – cannot be shunned if the over population of dogs and cats is ever to be managed.
Emma Clifford, the founder of Animal Balance – which led last January’s inaugural OP programme – also reminded Mr Christie of his personal endorsement of their efforts.
She said: “Our collective strategy to combat the street dog problem was publicly endorsed by yourself and your government colleagues at a reception night which you kindly organised for us. You asked me personally if the foreign volunteers would return each year and I said ‘yes’, then you announced that message to the general public on film, which received a resounding cheer from the audience.”
However, following opposition from local vets to the inclusion of foreign volunteers – despite the admission that this would make it not nearly as effective – local organisers scrapped the project.
They said the vets’ counter-proposal of a shortened project of just three days and a charge of $50 per surgery would cost far too much and could not achieve enough in terms of results to be worth the trouble.
Comments
keithcooper 11 years ago
Let me state for the record...Bahamian Vets ought not to be compensated for doing a service to the country. They cannot expect to be paid - this is a TRUE VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE...SERVICE ABOVE SELF MAN...and they want to compensated as noted in another related Tribune article..."Foreign vets do benefit as a result of their involvement and Bahamian professionals are seeking minimum and reasonable compensation."- WTF is this statement all about!
ThisIsOurs 11 years ago
The details on both sides are sketchy. Letters submitted from both groups hint at egos playing a larger role than anything in the cancellation.
I don't believe the local vets should be forced or shamed into performing a free community service, that is a personal choice for every individual. Where the average Bahamian can get vacation pay if they take a few days off, these vets will lose their entire operating income for those days. So I won't judge them if they decide they cannot do it. But what they should not do is prevent someone who wants to make the sacrifice from doing the work.
Emac 11 years ago
I don’t think that this is about forcing or shaming local vets to volunteer. I believe what everyone is saying is that if the local vets refuse to spay or neuter each animal for the $30, then they should respectfully decline to participate and step aside to let the foreigners do what they have to do. Simple as that! The way I see it, the local vets did not want the foreign volunteers to come in without VMAB’s involvement, because this would show them up and people would cry shame because of their lack of participation in such a crucial project, that is taking place in their own country. I salute all local vets because I truly believe that they have been doing their part in trying to help defenseless animals in this country. But a person who cares so much for the welfare of stray dogs would put aside pettiness so that these animals can get the help they so desperately need.
ThisIsOurs 11 years ago
Yep "But what they should not do is prevent someone who wants to make the sacrifice from doing the work."
Emac 11 years ago
Lol. Sorry I obviously over looked that part. In essence I guess we're on the same page.
shantelle 11 years ago
No one is saying Bahamian vets must do it for free - everyone understands the economic climate . $30 payment per surgery was agreed on to give the vets working alongside allowing foreign volunteers to assist who are experienced and specially trained in high volume spay /neuter . Since this agreement was formed the VAMB has changed the playing field - demanding more money (to make a profit not just cover costs) and denied the outside help graciously offered . Under their proposal approx 150 dogs will be spayed /neutered over 3 days for the same cost as a 5 day program working with more vets hoping to do 1,000 spay/neuters. It is disputable their greed and pride are the primary focus and not the animals .
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