(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The recently issued human trafficking report is not based on facts and contains half truths and lies, Justice Minister Edward Belfort told Parliament yesterday.
The Minister responded to remarks by legislator Chandrikapersad Santokhi who criticized the government for failing to take measures in 2011 to prosecute perpetrators of human trafficking as stated in the report. For the umpteenth consecutive time Suriname has been reprimanded by the United States for its poor efforts in the field of human trafficking. Washington states in the report that in 2011 Suriname did little or nothing to fight this evil, reason why the country was placed on the Tier 2 Watch List, the one but last category. The recently issued Trafficking in Persons Report 2012 typifies Suriname as a transit point and final destination for victims of sex slavery and bonded labor.
Belfort told the legislature that the statement regarding prosecution of perpetrators is not true, citing two cases of prosecution. He denied allegations that the government had expelled suspects. Belfort said that the government wondered where Washington got its facts from to compile the report.
Guno Castelen of the NF faction responded that the government should react more assertive when it is faced with reports containing wrong facts. NDP legislator André Misiekaba argued that Minister Winston Lackin had discussed this matter with the American Ambassador, who had then responded that it was a final report so nothing in it could be changed. The NDP expects the government to investigate this case more thoroughly and issue a statement.
