Groups call for end to exploitation of Amerindian women
Stabroek News
August 1, 2004
Two Amerindian organisations are calling for an end to the exploitation of young Amerindian women by owners of eating and drinking establishments and 'kayamoos' and for the government and other stakeholders to urgently address the causes of the problem.
The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG) and the Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP) also urged subject Minister Bibi Shadick to see that the laws against prostitution and child labour are fully enforced and that the unscrupulous business people who exploit these young women for profit are brought to justice.
In a joint statement, the organisations said they had reported cases of forced prostitution and child labour of Amerindians on the Essequibo Coast, mainly in Anna Regina, to the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security four years ago but no action was ever taken.
The statement said the Amerindian groups were heartened by the current publicity being given this issue especially in relation to the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) initiative and restated their concerns about the vulnerability of the Amerindians who resort to illegal activities to earn a living because of desperate economic circumstances.
GOIP and TAAMOG said the monies earned from prostitution are often the mainstay of Amerindian families who have no other means of livelihood.
The Amerindian organisations said a number of cultural groups in Guyana have condemned these exploitative practices including the Chinese Association, the Guyana Indian Heritage Association and the Indian Arrival Committee.
The Pan African Movement, the Guyana Rastafari Council and the African Heritage Foundation also pledged support for the joint statement.
The joint statement said all the groups agreed that the prostitution of young Amerindian women could have far-reaching effects on Guyana's entire society if it is not halted. Apart from deepening a breakdown in morality, the illegal practice could add to the already high incidence of HIV/AIDS in Guyana by creating an epidemic in the Amerindian community.
GOIP and TAAMOG said they were willing to be part of any national committees established to investigate and correct the situation.