The Ministry of Home Affairs – Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons yesterday said that on Friday a total of twenty Mines and Environmental officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission benefited from a one day anti- trafficking in persons’ session.
A release from the ministry yesterday said that the discourse was aimed to equip these officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand, detect and report suspected cases of trafficking in persons within the mining and forestry districts.
The release said that presentations were made by representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Labour, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Guyana Police Force – TIP and Immigration Departments.
It said that the fight against human trafficking remains a significant challenge with vulnerable populations often being exploited in various sectors such as the mining and logging industries. These two industries, in particular, are high- risk sectors for Trafficking in Persons due to its labour- intensive nature, frequent acts of operating illegal brothels for sexual exploitation, and the presence of informal and unregulated work practices.
The training, the release said, also emphasized the importance of collaboration between government agencies, law-enforcement, civil society and the private sector in combating trafficking in persons effectively.
The public was encouraged to continue to report suspected instances of trafficking in persons, utilizing the 24-hour English or Spanish Hotlines 227-4083/623-5030, (Spanish/Español) 624-0079 or the nearest police station.