The policeman implicated in transporting a 14-year-old girl into the Puruni Backdam, in Region Seven, where she and others were forced to be sex workers, is now custody after he was picked out by the girl during an identification parade.
Stabroek News has been reliably informed that the girl picked out the officer from a line-up and there was a confrontation between them before he was taken into custody.
The confirmation came hours after Crime Chief Seelall Persaud had indicated that while the policeman was implicated in transporting the girls into the Region Seven area, investigators were unable to locate him and trying to find him. However, Stabroek News was informed late last evening that the rank was located and picked out in an ID parade.
The girl was among four who were rescued from Puruni on Sunday by the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO). Simona Broomes, GWMO President, had told Stabroek News on Sunday that the 14-year-old, who is youngest of the girls, had indicated that she was taken into the interior location by the police officer, who has a shop there. She had left his shop upon his refusal to pay her, after forcing her to work as a sex worker.
Persaud yesterday also said from the statements taken from the girls, there was evidence of human trafficking and the police were continuing their investigation into the matter.
He said ranks are preparing to head into the Tiger Creek area, where the girls were allegedly being held against their will by shop owners and being forced to work as sex slaves, but he added that their travel depends on the force acquiring money and transportation to get to the location.
Broomes and other members of her organisation dramatically rescued the girls from the shop owners, who later threatened and assaulted her and even followed them as they made their way out of the area.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment in a statement yesterday said that it is investigating the report by Broomes that she was assaulted by the couple while a Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) mines officer stood and watched. Broomes had said one GGMC officer stood by while she was attacked; she also accused another of trying to delay their exit from the area.
“…The Ministry upon learning of this report asked that a report be submitted from Ms Broomes and [ordered] an immediate investigation into this incident.
This investigation has started with possible disciplinary action to be taken against [any GGMC officer found culpable],” the ministry said.
Meanwhile, the girls remained in the custody of officials of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security yesterday and Broomes said she saw and spoke to them and they were in good spirits.
When they were taken to Bartica on Sunday evening, they were forced to remain at the Bartica Police Station as there was no facility for them to be accommodated and while Broomes had offered accommodation at a private residence she had requested a police officer be present because of the threats they received from the shop owners.
The request was denied by the police and the girls were forced to remain at the station and slept on the ground.
This situation prompted Opposition Leader David Granger on Monday in the National Assembly to issue a call to the government to provide short-term accommodation for victims of human trafficking, saying a police station is no place for them.
The ministry also said that through the GGMC and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and collaboration with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the GWMO, it continues to support the national efforts to deal with Trafficking in Persons (TIP).
It said stakeholders in the mining sector take a “zero tolerance” attitude towards TIP.
A number of joint related activities were held and will be pursued, it added, while noting that GGMC officers have been directed to support the efforts and anyone found acting contrary to these directives will be subjected to an investigation and possible disciplinary actions.
According to the ministry, ongoing GGMC measures to further assist in combatting human trafficking sees the targeting of primary and secondary schools through the use of pamphlets, posters and lectures; data collection and dissemination; and training of all field officers to recognise human trafficking at the various stages and the system for reporting potential cases.
In addition, the ministry noted that it has also approved measures for GGMC officers to take in support of the fight against TIPs, especially in mining districts.
These include screening local and foreign establishments, including restaurants, mining camps, hotels, and shops, that employ Guyanese and foreign nationals to ensure that they are not being exploited and/or under-age persons are not employed.
They also screen all persons entering and leaving mining sites at checkpoints at Itaballi, Sherima, Port Kaituma, among other locations and persons appearing to be under-age are thoroughly screened. They also ensure that persons in the mining areas have the required documentation, such as work permits and certificates of registration.
