Authorities lax with human traffickers

Jul 21, 2013 News

The non-prosecution of persons allegedly involved in human trafficking is allowing the vicious sex trade to continue and undermining all efforts and resources used to rescue victims, says a resident of Mahdia, who recently helped authorities rescue five teenagers including an 18-year-old from Imara Creek.
While the teenagers have escaped from the holding shelter in Georgetown, their one time sex traders are still frequenting Mahdia.
According to the man, cognizant of what was happening in the backdam with the teenagers, the relevant authorities were informed. The police acted on the information and the girls were rescued. They were handed over to a welfare officer and were subsequently sent to Georgetown to give statements at police headquarters, Eve Leary.
The man has been inquiring about this particular Trafficking in Persons (TIP) matter because he wants the perpetrators to be prosecuted. He said that if the authorities are willing to capture the perpetrators, particularly the woman who is seemingly the ring leader, they could since they frequent Mahdia.
President of Guyana Woman Miners’ Organization, Simona Broomes, said that this rescue mission occurred when she was overseas so she was unable to be part of it. However, since her return she has been following up on the matter with the Ministry of Human Services, which, she said, has provided no help.
Apparently, the teenagers escaped from the shelter where they were being held because of the lack of food and other necessities. Broomes said Guyana does not have a centre for TIP victims and so they stay at a shelter owned by a Non-Governmental Organization. The Ministry is supposed to be responsible for the victims’ wellbeing but it seems that the Ministry does not execute their duties effectively.
Reflecting on the recent rescue of another batch of five girls, this time from 14 Mile Issano, Broomes said some of the girls left the shelter because of the same lack of food. She said food is inexpensive and should be provided to the victims.
She emphasized that when the girls leave the shelter there is no witness to testify against the perpetrators. As such, all efforts should be made to make the victims comfortable thus gaining their confidence to see the prosecution of criminals.
In addition, programmes should be available to help integrate the victims back into society, giving them renewed hope that something better is out there for them.
Commenting on the recent rescue mission, Broomes said that the law provides for persons transporting TIP victims to be prosecuted. She said that the truck driver and porter who helped to transport two of the victims in the backdam should also be prosecuted.
Broomes said the truck driver helped to positively identify the police rank of Sherima Police Station, who allegedly raped one of the victims in the station’s barrack room for her to gain entry into the backdam without identification.
Broomes said at first that it was believed that two police ranks raped two of the victims, aged 16 and 26, but as the matter unfolded, only one rank was fingered along with a member of a private security firm.
She said that there were supposed to be two ranks on duty that day but one of them was not there.
Numerous calls to the Commissioner of Police went unanswered.

Latest News

Authorities lax with human traffickers

Related

Similar Articles

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

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Berbice Cricket Board U19 Inter club competition begins today with...

Windball Cricket Reg. 4 EBD Jagans Memorial...

Supenaam All Stars successfully defend title in...

ExxonMobil Guyana, Linden Inter Schools Football...

All-round Demerara keep win-streak alive with...

Rietema retains Title against stacked field

Features/Columnists

Freedom of Information is a myth

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

Trust- who, Jagdeo? Why trust any of them?

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Authorities lax with human traffickers

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 […]