Grenada has made it clear that a technical decision, not a political one, was taken regarding the unauthorised importation of two horses which had to be subsequently euthanised due to disease.

This, as the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry through the Veterinary and Livestock Division says there was a recent biosecurity incident involving the attempted importation of two horses from St Lucia into Grenada.

It notes no permit was granted for importation of the horses and official health documentation from the Chief Veterinary Officer of St Lucia confirmed that both horses tested positive for Babesia spp., the causative agent of equine babesiosis, a serious tick-borne disease of horses.

Grenada is currently free of equine babesiosis, and under its national policy, animals that test positive for Babesia are strictly prohibited from entering the country.

The Ministry says Grenada does not have an operational quarantine facility capable of safely housing and managing high-risk, Babesia-positive animals nor does the Veterinary and Livestock Division currently possess the specialised medications, equipment, and supplies required to adequately treat such cases.

It adds external partners within Grenada indicated they could not provide quarantine or treatment for these animals and given these constraints, there was no safe or lawful way to admit, isolate, and manage these horses within Grenada.

Since the animals were denied legal entry to Grenada and returning to the exporting country was determined not to be feasible, the horses were humanely euthanised in accordance with accepted veterinary welfare standards and immediately incinerated under official supervision to ensure complete destruction of potentially infectious material.

The Ministry of Agriculture says the humane euthanasia and incineration of the animals were not punitive measures, but necessary public and animal health interventions to prevent a serious and irreversible animal disease problem in Grenada.

It reminds that the horses were brought into Grenada without legal authorisation which constitutes a clear breach of the Act, which requires a valid permit for the importation of any animal or animal product.

Local entrepreneur, Royan Smith of Bonanza Stables is considering legal action against the State.