“They serve a
purpose in our marine ecosystems. Being scavengers, they help with the health
of our marine systems, which impacts the fish that we like to eat in
Jamaica”
NEPA Environmental Officer, Monique Curtis warning
Jamaican not to Eat Crocodiles
First it was Crocodile
Meat that was on the menu in Jamaica resulting in NEPA (National Environmental
and Planning Agency) warning the public not to eat them as stated in Don't
eat crocodiles, NEPA cautions, published Thursday, September 19, 2013 12:55
PM, The Jamaica Observer and “NEPA Warns Public
Against Killing And Eating Crocodiles”, Published Thursday September 19,
2013 9:54 am, The Jamaica Gleaner.
Now we’re
apparently putting the “sly Mongoose” on the menu as well, leaving NEPA in a
quandary as the Mongoose isn’t endangered.
But the Mongoose
does present a Health Problem as Mongoose carry a variety of diseases,
including Leptospirosis as stated in the article “Don't eat them!
Authorities warn against mongoose consumption”, published October 18, 2013
by SHELDON WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter, The
Jamaica Star.
Imports from
India during slavery times to Rats, the main reason they were brought to
Jamaica, they also eat the Yellow Snake as well, being used to a diet of Cobras
in India! That’s why the Yellow Snake is also on the endangered list. Add to
that too the Coney, the Leatherback and the Manatee, albeit not because of the
Mongoose but again because of Mans’ desire to possess the virility that eating
these animals is said to impart!
For
those who’ve never seen a Mongoose, there’s one at the Hope Zoo in Hope
Gardens…..assuming he’s not on the Hope Zoo’s menu!
Crocodile vs Mongoose – Endangered and Tasty as
Chicken Back Shortages continue
Crocodiles are
an endangered species under the Wildlife Protection Act (1971); if you're
caught with one, living or dead, that’s an instant JA$100,000 fine and/or a
prison term of up to two years as stated in “Jamaicans Warned Against Capturing
and Eating Crocodiles”, published WEDNESDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2013 17:11 by E.
Hartman Reckord, The Jamaica Information
Service.
They’re not man-eaters
like most Jamaican women either, as they’re shy and prefer to eat fish.
However, Jamaican Males, concerned about bring back life to the dead, mainly
their virility, have made a meal of their Meat and Eggs, particularly their
Tails whether Curried, barbecued or jerked as stated in “PHOTOS: Secret
Crocodile-Eating Parties, Poachers, Threatening Reptile's Existence In Jamaica”
Published Monday October 7, 2013 12:03 pm, The Jamaica Gleaner.
News
of our taste for crocodiles has even reached abroad, as concerns abound that
our love for eating the reptile and its eggs may place the animal back on the
World Endangered Species list as stated in the article “Fears
Jamaica's taste for crocodile meat and eggs could wipe out reptiles”,
published 07 Oct 2013 1:01AM BST, The UK
Telegraph.
Not surprising
as Jamaica is currently undergoing a Chicken back shortage as stated in the
article “CHICKEN
BACK SHORTAGE HURTS VENDORS”, published August 15 2013 by Diandra
Grandison, Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Star
and “No
end in sight to chicken back shortage”, published Friday August 9, 2013
7:03 am, published, RJR News Online among
the Rural Poor that still can’t afford Oxtail or Pork, putting these animals on
the menu as alternatives! Who knows, maybe Lucas the Lion at Hope Zoo is next!
Our taste for Crocodiles
isn’t a recent development. We’ve been munching on them since 2010, when The Jamaica Star first brought the practice
to light in the article “JAMAICANS CHEW
INTO CROC TAIL”, published September 23 2010 by CRYSTAL HARRISON, STAR
Writer, The Jamaica Star.
Apparently we
like them, Jerked, Curried and even Barbeque. Delicious, I assume, as I’m from
Milk River, Clarendon and I’ve heard of (but never been to) one of these
parties where these Animals are a hidden entrée on the nights menu at a Setup
or Dance held by a prominent Community member!
Family and Community Gardens – Grow what we Eat this
Christmas to reduce Import Bill
Jamaica already
uses Excess Eggs and Waste Fruit to make a Butter substitute and Fruit puree
for the School Feeding program as explained in my blog article
entitled “Ministry
of Agriculture to approve Fruit and Liquified Eggs for School Feeding Program
even as Pork faces Glut - How Solar Farming will make Jamaica's Food Security
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”.
Rooftop Gardens
are especially suitable as they can be made from Glass Bottles and arranged to
grow atop the Zinc Rooftops of many Inner-city communities, saving on land
space as explained in my blog article
entitled “How
to Cut Glass Bottles and make your own Rooftop Garden made up of Wick-Based
Hydroponic Gardening System - More uses for the Distilled Water from the
Fresnel based Solar Desalinator”.
Now this same
strategy needs to be employed to feed our nation, as it’s becoming apparent
food shortages will worsen during Christmas 2013, making every animal a
possible candidate to replace the traditional Chicken that not only short but
now too expensive to afford. My parents who live in Milk River, Clarendon, have
long practiced self sufficiency, growing most of what they eat at home and thus
reducing their need to buy food from the Supermarket to eat.
I myself have
stopped going to the Supermarket, instead going Downtown to Coronation Market
to haggle with the best of them for the Fruits and Vegetables which are not
only organically grown but much better for you. I’ve stopped eating a lot of
the Processed Food in Tins and Fast Food, instead relying on Farm grown
produce, using my eyes and hands to discern good from bad among the Vendors
downtown. In short, it’s back to not only Basics, but also to food I can
prepare myself and control the taste!
The trick of
course as a shopper, is to simply get the phone number of your favourite
Vendor, thus making it possible to call ahead of time and reserve your produce.
Look at it this way: eventually when they get Bank Accounts and Mobile Money
Accounts as well as a Website (it is possible you know!) as described in my blog article
entitled “How
Jamaicans can set up a Payment Gateway in order to process Credit Card
purchases - E-Commerce the main Catalyst for Increasing Jamaica's Internet
Penetration”, shopping Downtown online may become as convenient a reality
as going to the Supermarket! But that’s in the distant future!
“Eat What we
Grow” doesn’t mean to wait on the GOJ to get the Jamaica Agriculture Sector
organized enough to grow crops on demand instead of creating glut and shortages
when the demand changes. Rather, like many Jamaicans that have already signed
up to Farmville Jamaica to grow their own Food organically as stated in my Geezam blog article entitled “Farmville
Jamaica Live heralds the rise of Social Farming”, we have to grow our own
food.
If not, then Sly
Mongoose and Bro Crocodile may well be extinct in the next few years as the ongoing
effects of the Recession affects those living in the Rural areas of Jamaica the
most! So please don’t Eat me, as I’m a Deer!
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