Georgetown: The Ministry of Social Protection’s Counter Trafficking In Persons (C-TIP) unit has received 13 reports of human trafficking to date, all of which are currently under investigation.
Two of the cases were reported in January, allegedly involving two victims; five in February involving eight alleged victims; two in March involving seven alleged victims; three in April involving 10 alleged victims, and one in May involving one alleged victim.
Tanisha Williams- Corbin, TIP Coordinator (Ag) explained that in 2015, the TIP unit sought to expand its operations to better serve the needs of those vulnerable persons, identified as alleged TIP victims, and to better execute its mandate.
During the launch of the C-TIP unit’s Jubilee edition of educational materials today, to heighten awareness on human trafficking and its effects, Williams-Corbin said that since the restructuring, two experienced probation officers have been recruited for the unit, and a police rank is now attached to it. The Ministry also envisions having its own legal officer shortly.
Mohan Ramrattan, Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) warned all perpetrators who are involved in the act of human trafficking that, the Ministry will do all it can to prevent it.
He said that the Ministry intends to address the root causes of human trafficking, especially that of poverty. This will be done through the provision of counselling services, public assistance and necessary psychosocial support in keeping with the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005, and provision of technical training and grants and loans to at risk families.
Ramrattan noted that the Ministry will also support the work of the TIP Ministerial Task Force in stamping out this scourge. The intention is to ensure that victims of human trafficking are not re-victimised by the country’s laws.
Ramrattan said, the rights of Guyanese will be upheld by the Ministry and will continue to be on the front burner of its 2016 development programme.
In moving forward, specific emphasis will be placed on several aspects including the current and emerging trends of TIP in Guyana, identifying TIP victims and perpetrators, ensuring there is adequate law enforcement responses, supporting all TIP victims regardless of their immigration status, and supporting special target groups.
When the Government took office in 2015, it reconvened meetings of the TIP Ministerial Task Force which is chaired by Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. It includes the Ministers of Social Protection, Legal Affairs, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
One major priority of the task force will be the formulation of an Action Plan for the period 2016-2017 to tackle human trafficking.
For three consecutive years (2013/2014/2015), Guyana has been placed on the Tier Two Watch List of TIP. Since the TIP Act was enacted in 2005, very little was done to make the legislation useful and effective.
Tier 1 is countries whose governments fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's (TVPA) minimum standards. Tier 2 are countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA's minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.
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