Twenty-eight cases of suspected human trafficking were investigated by the Guyana Police Force from last August to April of this year.
This was disclosed by Minister of Human Service and Social Security (MoHSSS) Dr Vindhya Persaud at Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, after she was asked to provide statistics regarding trafficking in persons (TIP) by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Natasha Singh-Lewis.
According to Persaud, four suspected cases were recorded in August, two of which were from Region Four and one each from regions Six and Seven. In September and December, one case was recorded in Region Four while in October, four were recorded – two from Region Four, and one each from regions One and Two.
In November, 6 suspected cases were recorded with three from Region Four and one each from regions Two, Three, and Ten.
Meanwhile, in January, one case from Region Four was investigated and three each in February and March. These cases are from regions One, Two, Four, Six, Seven and Ten. Five cases were recorded in April with two from Region Four, and one each from regions Six, Seven and Ten.
Meanwhile, Persaud also noted that a total of eight suspected human trafficking cases involving 12 children were reported to the MoHSSS for the same period. In September one case in Region Four was investigated and was confirmed to be a TIP case and is currently being prosecuted. Two cases that were reported in November from Region Two are currently under investigation.
There were four cases in Region One being investigated in January and February, 2021, but these were confirmed not to be TIP cases. In March, five suspected cases were investigated, two each from regions Two and Ten, all of which are confirmed TIP cases that are currently being prosecuted. The remaining one is from Region Six and this case is currently under investigation.
Persaud also disclosed that from August to December, 2020, three cases were prosecuted, two of which were rolled over from 2019. From January, to April, 2021, eight cases were prosecuted – one in January and four in April. She stated that factors that may have contributed to the numbers include, the lockdown and COVID-19 regulations which restricted the entertainment industry; suspended raids by the police in light of COVID-19; and suspected victims’ unwillingness to cooperate with law enforcement.
