Latest update April 1st, 2025 5:37 PM
Tackling Human Trafficking in Guyana
– 7 reports for 2013
While Guyana remains on the tier two watch list of the US State Department for Trafficking in Persons (TIP), a specially designed unit within the Ministry of Human Services (HSM) has been actively involved in the struggle to counteract the scourge.
This is according to the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster.
The Minister related that the TIP Unit continually provides psychosocial support for victims and their families along with accommodation as well as counseling services provided by skilled 
and professional counselors.
The Minister explained that TIP Unit comprises four (4) staff members including the Coordinator.
“The work of the department is structured according to the TIP Act No. 2 of 2005. Section 18 (1) of that Act states that The Minister of Home Affairs in conjunction with the Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security shall develop plans, in consultation with non -governmental organizations and other representatives of civil society, for the provision of appropriate services from governmental and non-governmental sources, for victims of trafficking and dependent children accompanying the victims.”
This newspaper was reliably informed, that Trafficking In Persons is most prevalent in the mining districts of Guyana. Guyana has been touted as an easy target for TIP because of its geographical closeness to Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname.
“In most common cases TIP occurs because many persons enter the country through the porous borders of Guyana looking for greener pastures; they come from Suriname, Brazil, Venezuela, other South American countries, and even the Caribbean …sometimes not to ultimately settle here but our country is a target because of our geographic situation. An increasing number of Brazilians have entered the country illegally and consequentially engage in similar activities. Most of these persons are females who are very young ranging between fourteen to twenty five years old,” a source told Kaieteur News.
As it relates to domestic cases of TIP, this newspaper understands that the victims are very young and mostly solicited from poor households in rural and hinterland regions of the country.
“People living in these areas need to be especially careful because most times, women are used to recruit young girls from deprived homes and communities….Sometimes their parents allow them to go off with strangers, because they are told that they will have a better life … these operations are quite subtle, someone may answer to an advertisement for someone to work in a shop in the interior and end up being trafficked,” the source further said.
Minister Webster said there have been seven reports of TIP for this year, three of which are matters pending in the courts.
The Minister outlined the legislative benefits for victims of human trafficking to include – appropriate housing taking into account the person’s status as a victim of crime; safe conditions for sleeping, food and personal hygiene; psychological counseling in a language the victim can understand; medical assistance, employment, educational and training opportunities; and legal assistance.
She revealed that a special sum of US $75,000.00 is allocated for TIP through a project funded by the UNDP to support training and sensitization activities on the issue in the ten Administrative Regions, and to provide support to victims.
“To date training has been conducted in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9. Activities of Trafficking in Persons form part of the Ministry’s work programme annually and funds are provided in the Ministry’s budget.”
The Minister says that the National Mechanism to combat trafficking in persons is based upon the premise of the 4 P’s – Protection, Prosecution, Prevention and Partnership, which has proven to be effective in the fight thus far
The 2013 US State Department had painted a gloomy picture on the Guyana Government’s role in combating trafficking in persons, citing a lack of conviction.
As a result Guyana was once more placed on the tier two watch list for Trafficking In Persons (TIP) by the US State Department. However Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee reported that the local Trafficking In Persons Task Force is convinced that the report is a complete misrepresentation of Guyana’s situation.
Trafficking in Persons is ranked number two in the world on the list of modern day crimes. Human trafficking enslaves over 30 million women children and men every year.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Freedom of Information is a myth
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- I once thought Freedom of Information meant you could, well, access information freely.... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
