MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security Bibi Shadick says that people should report all incidents of human trafficking to the police or to her Ministry so that action could be taken against the perpetrators.
The Minister said that all reports will be dealt with confidentially. Her declaration came during an interview last week when she addressed the issue at a specially organised forum. “Our laws cover women up to the age of 21. There are also laws against people who live off the proceeds of prostitution,” she said.
Minister Shadick said that even though the laws exist they are not enforced. Despite this, part of the National Plan of Action is to sensitise people to them. However, the Ministry will be working with police to enforce the existing laws. She said that while the laws to deal directly with trafficking are still being drafted, there are adequate existing laws to control the problem.
Another plan by the Ministry is to meet with the business community to sensitize them to the issues, laws and penalties of trafficking in persons. Commenting on the third annual ‘Trafficking in Persons’ report that placed Guyana in the lowest ranking category, Minister Shadick said that she has requested to see the cases presented in the research by the US Embassy to the State Department.
According to the US Embassy Coordinator on ‘Trafficking in Persons’, Timothy Birner, an objective detailed research was done in Guyana. This research was confirmed with a number of agencies.
“We are a government that, when we hear of problems, we investigate them,” Minister Shadick stated.
During next month the Ministry is expected to launch its first outreach to some mining communities in Region Eight to sensitise the people there and uncover any case of the crime.