Man faces Court for breaching Wild Life Protection Act: NEPA remains tough on breaches!

July 6, 2012

Gerald Harridon, recently, pleaded not guilty to charges of breaching the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA) when the case was mentioned in the Old Harbour Resident Magistrates Court in St. Catherine last Friday (June 29, 2012). He is scheduled to return to Court on July 13, 2012.

Mr. Harridon was charged under Sections 6 (1) and 6A (a) of the WLPA, for hunting and possession of a protected animal – the American Crocodile. NEPA is assisting in the prosecution of the case and was in attendance at Court when the matter was mentioned.

Under the WLPA, it is an offence to be in possession of all or part of a protected animal, or bird or its eggs. It is also an offence to hunt a protected animal.

Hunting is defined by the Act as: killing, capturing, willfully molesting by any method and any attempt to kill, molest or capture any animal or bird. Persons in breach of the Act may be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to one year in prison.