Police accompany banana freckle eradication team to tackle remaining plants

THE Banana Freckle Eradication Program came to a head as one of the most outspoken opponents had almost 500 plants destroyed as police watched on.

Pieter Bekkers outraged at the poison used by the Banana Freckle Response team.

THE National Banana Freckle Eradication Program drama came to a head as one of Darwin’s most outspoken opponents had ­almost 500 plants destroyed as police watched.

Pieter Bekkers was joined by a small but vocal support group as members from the program hacked down plants with machetes and poisoned the stumps at his Virginia property on Monday.

Rural Residents’ Rights Group convener Diana Rickard shouted at the eradication team: “Mongrels! Shame! This is our food. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Police were asked by the eradication team to accompany them and were permitted on the property by Mr Bekkers, despite a sign denying them entry on his front fence.

“The police talked to me and said they’re just here to keep the peace,” Mr Bekkers said. “I said I’m 66, I’m hardly going to start bashing people.

“That’s not the way I operate. I operate with the law on my side.”

READ: BANANA FRECKLE ‘STANDOVER TACTICS’

Banana plants were required to be destroyed in six red zones in the Top End by April 30 to prevent the fungal disease from spreading and damaging the $600 million industry. No penalties have been imposed on those who refused to have their banana plants ­destroyed by the cut-off date.

Mr Bekkers believed the actions of those with the eradication team were unlawful and he would be working with other opponents on a class-action lawsuit for compensation. He was not entitled to compensation under the program as he was not a commercial grower.

Eradication program operations manager Brian Boyle said the request for a police presence as they entered Mr Bekkers’ property was to reinforce the legality of their actions.

“Some people just need convincing that we do have the legislation to destroy banana plants,” he said.

“They usually believe the police and it lets them know there is a law in place.

“We’re helping them to comply with the legislation to avoid fines and legal action.”

Mr Boyle said there were fewer than 10 properties left with banana plants that needed to be destroyed.