Response from Minister of Agriculture

I received a response in writing from the Minister of Agriculture, for which I am grateful. The entire content of the letter is as follows:

"Dear Ms. Nunez:
Re: National Concern for the Care and Protection of Animals
I refer to your letter of June 4, 2020. I wish to advise that the Animal (Diseases and Importation) (Amendment) bill, 2019 is the first step towards addressing these issues. This Bill was passed in the Senate and will be debated in the House of Representatives early July, 2020.
Yours faithfully
Senator Clarence Rambharat
Minister"

I am, however, unconvinced by his three-sentence reply to my two-page letter. I am equally unimpressed by the legislation (which I am yet to fully digest) which so far hands ALL RESPONSIBILITY for animal welfare and many other things to one person (an Inspector) and not a municipal authority. This is a backward step in my view, abdicating the responsibilities from local government to yet another bureaucrat, in this case, an Inspector, who has far too much on their plate. This concentration of power leaves room for inefficiency and corruption. Also, lumping domestic animals with wildlife and other categories of animals seems counterproductive in that there ought to be a different set of rules for each category. 

Further, Parliament has been dissolved ahead of the general elections on 10 August so there will be no debate on the Bill until the next sitting, at which time it will need to be tabled again.

I encourage you to read the Bill (http://www.ttparliament.org/legislations/b2019s07g.pdf) and see if you come to the same conclusion. To me, it's unsatisfactory in what it prescribes for stray animals. What do you think?