The Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons has rejected what it described as baseless and unsubstantiated allegations by Opposition Leader David Granger that the Government is not doing enough to deal with Trafficking In Persons.In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Home Affairs, under which portfolio the Task Force falls said that although Trafficking In Persons is certainly not rampant in Guyana, significant efforts have been adopted by Government to combat this phenomenon.It said that a combination of Law Enforcement, Social Sector and Community-based efforts have been successful in keeping Trafficking In Persons’ figures very low.Opposition Leader David GrangerUsing figures to support its position, the Ministry disclosed that in 2010 there were three victims, two victims in 2011, and one victim to date this year.The Ministry said that while it is almost impossible to totally eradicate any security-related threat, Government and its partners have been able to reduce this menace to a bare minimum by adopting a comprehensive approach.While noting that the police E & F division has come in for some amount of unfounded criticisms, the Ministry said that it wished to set the record straight.“This Division geographically covers areas in Regions 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10. It comprises thirty (30) Police Stations and six (6) Outposts. The long-standing disputable viewpoint of whether to restructure this Division possibly resulting in two separate Divisions has not received any robust support within the Guyana Police Force. As a matter of fact, such a move is seen as superfluous. So far the ‘E and F’ model has resulted in fairly good results, superior logistical coordination, greater cooperation in terms of intelligence gathering, and better use of limited resources.”The Ministry declared that already one person has been convicted for Trafficking In Persons, resulting from investigations conducted in the E&F Division.For this year, four persons are before the courts for the same offence.This, the Ministry said, dispels the view that individuals can exploit other human beings without being apprehended by Law Enforcement in E and F Division.According to the Home Affairs Ministry, it must be mentioned that the Guyana Police Force has conducted surveillance and monitoring exercises and raids on bars and shops to detect cases of human trafficking.Further, a number of police checkpoints have been established within E&F Division, along with frequent patrols and ‘stop and search’ operations.The Force is also working closely with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and other stakeholders to ensure more effective management and control of these areas.The ministry said “In recent times a number of kayamoos believed to house nefarious activities have been dismantled. All these strategies are targeted at a number of crimes including Trafficking In Persons, illegal weapons and narcotics. Further,San Jose Sharks Gear, owing to the difficulty of the terrain, Government has supplied the Guyana Police Force with All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to ensure access to difficult locations in this Division.Recently, the Guyana Police Force has conducted two training programmes for 41 officers and ranks on Trafficking In Persons.The programmes covered victim identification and Trafficking In Persons’ investigations.The aim is to ensure that all police and immigration officials, especially border officials and ranks stationed in the hinterland areas become fully sensitized and capable to respond to Trafficking In Persons.Guyana has developed a working relationship with several neighbouring countries such as Brazil and Suriname on a number of issues including information exchange on criminal matters and combating Trafficking In Persons. The objective of these processes is to foster cooperation to enhance victim assistance and information exchange to tackle trafficking networks.“These bilateral engagements offer opportunities to effectively deal with cross border trafficking in persons, strengthen services that target victim assistance and support and increase the likelihood of offenders outside the jurisdiction being apprehended and prosecuted,” the Home Affairs Ministry stated.Guyana is a signatory to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Trans-National Organised Crime. All forms of Trafficking In Persons are prohibited in Guyana through the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 2005.
