Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambachan, in addressing reports of an increase of  various animals  being smuggled  from Venezuela  to areas  within the South Western peninsula of Trinidad,  told the parliament that several steps have been taken to  ensure  various diseases,  namely hand, foot and  mouth disease, does not become an epidemic.

Minister Rambachan made public, details into the various measures that have been taken to monitor this development.