Latest update April 7th, 2026 12:30 AM
The sex workers are back at this Bartica hotel
Jul 20, 2015 Letters
Dear Editor,
“You can’t take Guyana seriously; Guyana is just a big joke,” said my friend. He was referring to a newspaper report that indicated that the country was ready to defend itself against the threats of Venezuela. He posited that Venezuela’s Air Force only need to drop a bomb on our Seawall and everybody on the coast would drown.
At the time, I didn’t get what he meant by not taking Guyana seriously or by referring to our country as just ”a big joke”. But now I do because of an experience I had recently while visiting Bartica.
On my visit to Bartica, I went to a hotel and bar that was in the news a month ago for alleged trafficking in person (TIP).
Here was the news headline, “Monday, 08 Jun 2015. Minister Broomes sweeps Bartica – 29 apprehended during Anti Trafficking operation.”
Here is an excerpt from the article:”Twenty-nine non-nationals were apprehended in Bartica, Region Seven following an exercise carried out by Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes.
This operation…was led by the minister herself.
The victims, of the 29 persons, 11 are likely to face charges and possible deportation, while the others will be assisting in the investigations.
“I am Broomes and I will not miss a sweep,” the Minister said in reference to her name. She pointed out that the social protection ministry will be aggressively tackling human trafficking throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.
”It’s a great feeling, I know that when I was honoured as a TIP hero I had taken an oath to work with government, civil society and individuals in bringing Guyana to a decent stage internationally…definitely, with the power invested in me these are some of the things I will take on. I have been there, I know what’s going on, and I know what to look for.” Minister Broomes emphasised.
This was the largest of such operations in Bartica and it demonstrates the new administration’s commitment to work with stakeholders to eradicate TIP, not only in Bartica and Region Seven, but Guyana as a whole.
It was big news because Minister Broomes was able to rescue what appeared to be a number of “innocent” women who were being held allegedly against their will.
At the time, I felt very happy that the women were being delivered from a life of slavery and sin. I also felt a deep admiration for Minister Broomes for putting her life at great risk to free these women.
What she did reminded me of the biblical story of Moses delivering the Israelites out of 400 years of slavery in Egypt and leading them to the promised land.
Just as Moses delivered the Israelites from Egypt, Minister Broomes, delivered the sex slaves from Guyana. Or so I thought.
Until my recent visit to this hotel and bar where the TIP story took place. What I saw and witnessed was business as usual.
The women,(victims), not sure if it’s the same women had returned to the same hotel and bar continuing their same sex trade, as if everything that the minister did was not to be taken seriously but a big joke. And then, my friend words dawned on me: don’t take anything in Guyana seriously and that our country is just a big joke.
What makes the story even more funny and hilarious is that the Bartica Police Station is just next door (less than 100 feet) from the said hotel and bar.
And so then, from now on, whenever I read any big news story in our country, I’ll not take it seriously because our country is just a big joke. I’ll just find it funny and get a good laugh.
Concerned Guyanese
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