President of the Pork Producers Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Ian Leong Poi, said yesterday that farmers held informal discussions at the weekend and proposed to meet later this week to prepare a document for submission to Minister Piggott.

Mr Leong Poi said that in the meantime, the district police and members of the Police Task Force have have started regular patrols in Erin, Tabaquite and the Heights of Aripo, the areas where the three major farms are located.

"We are pleased with the cooperation given by the police," said Mr Leong Poi.

"The police seemed determined to put an end to pig-stealing but we as proprietors have to assist the police by providing some of our own security and other measures to curb the stealing".

Mr Leong Poi added that since the loss of 133 piglets two weeks ago at his Erin Farm, no further losses have been reported, "but the farmers are continuing to take daily inventory of their stocks and are placing tattoos on all their pigs".

He said members of the association hoped to meet Minister Piggott as soon as they have completed their proposals.

The Trinidad & Tobago Express reports that the pig industry employs about 800 direct workers and scores of other workers who provide various services in connection to the enterprise.