Human trafficking is real in Guyana

May 20, 2014 Editorial

Up until a year ago Guyana prided itself on being clean of any accusation that it supported human trafficking. A decade ago when this issue reared its ugly head Guyana was angry that the United States had actually identified it as a country that protected human traffickers.
During parliamentary sessions held at the Ocean View Convention Centre because the Public Buildings was under repairs, there were heated arguments by the opposing sides. Government Ministers said that the United States, which had many more human traffickers than lowly Guyana, was seeking to pass judgement on a country where it had been proven that human trafficking was nonexistent.
The reality was that we never paid any attention to this phenomenon. As is the case today, parents often reported that their daughters had gone missing but the nation hardly paid any attention. When the girls returned home the deed had been done. The girl had been trafficked and was able to return home.
Her parents were ashamed at the fate of the girl that they kept their mouth shut. The cycle continued until international pressure forced Guyana to take a closer look at human trafficking. It was only then that we realized that girls, in particular, were lured from their homes with the promise of high paying jobs and actually forced into prostitution.
But even then, our administrators were angry because as far as they were concerned, we were being blamed for not doing what the world wanted us to do even as we had no reason to do anything. We were wrong. The world wanted us to prosecute the traffickers but we could not find them simply because we were not looking for them.
At the same time many young women were only too keen to earn money and for them, there was no easier way than to use their God-given proclivities and their natural endowment. Indeed, most of them came from households where parental supervision was at a minimum, where they were allowed to face peer pressure without the needed guidance.
Those who have travelled to the various remote locations in Guyana cannot help but notice young women working in bars and at the same time, offering their bodies for a fee. Many of them came from hinterland regions and having been faced with the harsh reality simply went with the flow. Sadly, they do not last too long but the wisdom they develop allow them to return home and to recruit younger girls.
Then there are those who understand young uneducated people. They fuel the resent these people feel toward their parents and before one knows it the young person is led away. A few who found the going too harsh begged to be freed and actually managed to escape from what is nothing but modern day slavery.
One of the criticisms of Guyana is that there is hardly any prosecution. Within the past year people who have been found to be exploiting the young women have been able to escape prosecution. Some say that the young women refuse to testify so a case cannot be laid. However, the victim does not necessarily need to testify when there is overwhelming evidence of the situation.
A man gets killed and his assailant is charged with murder. The victim by no stretch of imagination can be called to testify. Similarly, there is no need for the victim in the trafficking case to be called as a witness but then again, there have been some strange definitions of the law.
We have also heard that law enforcers facilitate human trafficking and the trade in underage girls. During a recent bust, we learnt that the traffickers would pay the police to turn the other way while the victims are escorted into the hinterland.
We can only wish that there is a more studied effort on the part of law enforcement. Gateways to the hinterland should be properly staffed. And above all, the rangers who patrol the mining areas should be decent and honest enough to halt illegalities.
However, the dollar is mighty and Guyana stands to suffer on the world stage.

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