Hon House Chair, hon members, the veterinary and para- veterinary professions are commonly overlooked as areas of viable employment, particularly in the black communities. This situation is not helped by the limited number of veterinarians available to service communities in the country because most of them are either found clustered in urban areas or they emigrate to countries that pay well for their services.
It is encouraging to note that this amendment Bill seeks to address these problems, especially by ensuring that those who join these professions are involved in compulsory community service for a year. This will allow for communities to be further educated in the ways of handling animals, whether in agriculture and related fields or in regard to domesticated pets. Most rural communities who do not have the services of a vet do not know how to handle an injured or sick animal, with some animals ending up being killed due to ignorance.
This Bill will also allow for better regulation of those clinics that provide veterinary services to ensure that professional standards are maintained and no abuse of animals takes place. It will also ensure that foreign nationals are registered and monitored to ensure that they comply with the immigration policies of our country. The IFP supports this Bill.