Latest update September 11th, 2026 10:26 AM
Human trafficking accused Ann Marie Carter walks free
After being tried for four counts of Trafficking in Person, a Magistrate in Bartica has dismissed all charges against Tiger Creek shop owner, Ann Marie Carter, a little over six months after the allegations were made.
Carter faced up to five years in prison after she was accused of trafficking four women at a Tiger Creek shop in Puruni. After months of trial at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Dylon Bess chose to free Carter on grounds of insufficient evidence.
Following the constant witness no-shows, Bess dismissed all the charges against Carter saying that there was not enough evidence before him to support that she trafficked the four women who were reportedly rescued by the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO).
In August 2013, Carter was hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and indicted for allegedly engaging in trafficking four women, for the purpose of sexual exploitation over different periods of time in Tiger Creek, Puruni.
After engaging the attention of two city Magistrates, the matter was subsequently transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where for the past few months it had engaged the attention of Magistrate Bess.
Carter, who was represented by Defence Attorneys Latchmie Rahamat and Peter Hugh, was being prosecuted by Sergeant Linden London and Inspector Williams.
In making her no case submission, Rahamat indicated that the evidence of two witnesses was before the court which had to consider that “one of the four persons who claimed that they were being trafficked ever made an appearance but had never returned for cross examination.”
The lawyer maintained, “Nothing can undo the damage that has been done to my client. If people are going to make such allegations, they need to come to court and desist from tarnishing people’s reputations.”
Rahamat said that though there are two sides to every coin, it is highly unfair for a person’s name and character to be publically stained when persons are unwilling to come to court and support the heavy allegations.
“While trafficking in person is serious, the allegations should not be made wantonly. It needs to be done carefully and it must be verified that a person had indeed been trafficked.”
“It is not sufficient for people to go to the police and make allegations. They must come to court and swear their evidence and allow for the due process. Their evidence must be tested.”
At the end of the trial, the Prosecution was informed that it had failed to establish a case of Trafficking in Person against Carter.
Magistrate Bess stated that given the evidence before him and the closure of the Prosecution’s case, he found that insufficient evidence was led by the Prosecution to prove the elements of the offence.
Bess said that as a result, the court would uphold the no case submission made by the Defence Attorneys Latchmie Rahamat and Peter Hugh and accordingly dismiss the case against Carter.
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