No growing old for iguanas in TT

THE EDITOR: Are dogs and cats the only animals that have the misfortune to find themselves living in TT? Are iguanas not animals too? Have not the penalties for cruel, uncaring behaviour to dumb beasts been substantially increased in the recent past? Is the purpose of these increased penalties not to deter people from sadistic treatment of animals?

These questions occurred to me in looking at the photo titled “Open Season” on the opinion page of a daily newspaper of December 11. It is disturbing to think that live iguanas with their forelegs wrenched behind their backs and tied were being displayed for sale along Pluck Road, Woodland.

Clearly the purveyor of these live animals had no fear of being fined or sent to jail for his cruelty. Equally clearly, the iguanas were suffering horribly. Any police officer passing along Pluck Road (or indeed a forestry officer) had the responsibility to free those iguanas and charge the man.

I doubt that happened. Interestingly, it is said that there are more iguanas than human

beings in Puerto Rico. There, the iguanas are admired and live in harmony with everyone else.

It is impossible to imagine an iguana in TT being permitted to live in peace and grow old, isn't it?

A BLADE

Mason Hall