ONE DIPLOMATIC VICTORY IS NOT ENOUGH

Jul 12, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

In my two previous columns, I discussed the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report on Guyana, identifying the main problem areas including involuntary prostitution, forced labour.
I also made a number of prescriptions as to how the authorities may address the issue. Among the proposals were (a) the need to have a proactive foreign policy mechanism to deal with this and the many other extra-jurisdictional country reports, (b) an impartial investigation into the areas identified in the report to determine whether these merit the attention given in the report, and (c) the establishment of a Task Force to conduct inspections and surveys on ‘ hot spots’ where there is a high risk of activities that can lead to trafficking in persons or in which women are being exploited and forced into either sexual enslavement or servitude.
Since the publication of the two previous columns, the government of Guyana has explored the diplomatic option and has made a major breakthrough by having its concerns over the report inserted in the final declaration of the Annual Heads of Government Summit of the Caribbean Community. This action represents an important diplomatic plus for the country and the government must be applauded for having gone this route and for securing this outcome. This is a much more purposeful approach than simply sounding off against the Americans.
The diplomatic efforts must continue. The government continues to demand proof that some 984 children were removed from situations of forced labour, under a US-sponsored program. The government is questioning who are the children removed and has demanded that the US provide the evidence.
The US is not likely to do so. Protocol and convention would not allow the US to justify its findings in the report. As such, the onus is on the Guyana government to contradict these findings.
It can do so by approaching the US Congress. The program under which it is alleged the children were removed had to have been funded by a US agency and Congress has oversight of these agencies. As such, the government should approach Congress and demand an investigation into that project to decide whether US taxpayers’ dollars was spent to produce bogus numbers in relation to the outcome of that project. By pressing the right buttons, the Guyana government can obtain the action it demands. While it will never obtain a review through formal representation to the US government, it can have this done through the Congress and this is where a strong lobby should be assembled.
Since many other Caribbean nations share similar concerns as Guyana towards these extra-jurisdictional reports, the govenrment should insist that Caricom’s equivalent of the Foreign Relations Council, establish a permanent mechanism to explore, particularly with the US, the region’s and individual member states’ concerns about these reports.
There were reportedly some informal commitments made during last year’s Summit of the Americas. The region needs to hold the Americans faithful to these commitments but this would be best achieved through a permanent mechanism created by its Foreign Ministers.
In the meantime, the Guyana government must show its seriousness locally towards eradicating exploitation in the labour force.
A picture appeared in the newspapers of yesterday showing children pushing a make-shift cart with rubbish drums. The children were very young and were taking this heavy load to dump somewhere. What is the Ministry of Labour going to classify this chores or work, child work or child labour?
It is much better that rather than having to debate whether labour is forced or voluntary that action be taken on both the legislative and law enforcement front to prohibit any action that is exploitative of particularly children and women.
It is much better to enforce the laws prohibiting the public soliciting of sexual services than to debate whether such services are forced or voluntary.
In short, it is better to act rather than wax lyrical over technicalities, for regardless of what CARICOM says, regardless of the outcome of any lobby within the US Congress, in the final analysis, Guyana has an obligation, including under its own laws to reduce the incidence of things which are considered as trafficking in persons.
The diplomatic victory in Jamaica may not be enough to prevent sanctions come next year.

Latest News

ONE DIPLOMATIC VICTORY IS NOT ENOUGH

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 31st, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest tips off today

Saints and GTI dominate as YBG Georgetown...

Carty misses ton, Hamilton (80) sets up tense...

Annandale Sec’ dominates latest fixtures in...

GPF FC to tackle Slingerz tomorrow as GFF Elite...

Permaul’s Trading & Distribution joins...

Features/Columnists

The reciprocal tariffs

The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation

Tariffs – American game, American imagination

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

ONE DIPLOMATIC VICTORY IS NOT ENOUGH

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 31st, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]