The Ministry of Public Security on Thursday said an updated national drug strategy master plan will soon be released and on another front, it vowed to invest in the total eradication of trafficking in persons.
In a statement, it noted that provision for the establishment and operation of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons is provided for in the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act No. 2 of 2005.
The Task Force will be chaired by Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan who according to Sections 31 and 32 of the Act holds responsibility for the gathering and dissemination of information on efforts to combat trafficking in persons and the training of law enforcement and immigration personnel in this area.
He will be joined by the Ministers from the Ministry of Social Protection, the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs, and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, along with the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Task Force will be composed of technical representatives from other Ministries, Government Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations.
“The Ministry of Public Security pledges to invest in initiatives geared at reducing the incidence of trafficking in persons in Guyana, with the aim of totally eradicating the scourge.
One such major initiative will be the formulation of an Action Plan for the period 2016-2017”, the statement said.
The Ministry encouraged individuals to continue reporting suspected cases of trafficking in persons to the Hotline of the Ministry of Social Protection at 227-4083.
It added that the National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) 2016-2020 will soon be released.
This Plan flowed from a review and modification of the NDSMP 2014-2018, following the need to bring it in line with the most recent national and international trends of the drug problem, the statement said.
It said that the Master Plan utilizes a long term balanced approach between public health and public security.
It tackles demand reduction, supply, control measures, institutional strengthening and policy coordination.
“In essence, the NDSMP will guide the operational plans of all government departments and other bodies involved in the reduction of demand, supply control, and all other aspects of the national fight against drug abuse and its associated ills”, the statement added.
