-enhanced screening for visa applications
The government last week welcomed key recommendations in the US State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report and said that there will be enhanced screening of visa applications among other measures.
While a joint statement by the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn and the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud did not specify which recommendations they were referring to, the US had flagged labour pacts involving Cubans and Chinese.
“…the Government of Guyana wishes to note that we welcome the key recommendations in this report and have commenced efforts to immediately implement the same, notably the training of the Ministry of Home Affairs- Immigration Support Services staff and enhanced screening of visa applications”, the joint statement said.
The statement then went on to outline steps that were being taken by the Guyana Government.
It said that the Ministry of Human Services is in the process of developing and implementing a Trauma-Informed training module and capacity building training programmes for all social workers and counselors providing services to victims of human trafficking.
The joint statement said that in an effort to ensure that all services are decentralized and accessible to victims across Guyana, the Ministry recently launched its Services Delivery Hub in Mabaruma, Region #1.
This hub features a Counter-Trafficking in Persons Office for reporting suspected cases of TIP, providing support to alleged victims, and also ensuring awareness and training programmes are routinely rolled out in the region. This hub also features a soft-room for counselling and a medical examination room.
The joint statement added that for the first quarter of 2024, the Guyana Police Force- Trafficking in Persons Unit received and investigated seven cases in which 159 alleged victims were screened and interviewed, three being under eighteen years of age. One person was officially charged and placed before the court for the offence of trafficking in persons.
Additionally, awareness and sensitization activities were conducted in Regions 1,2, 4, 6, 7, and 9 with commercial sex workers, Indigenous groups (local and foreign), migrants, youth groups, primary and secondary school children (private and government), trainee teachers, miners, shop owners in the mining and forestry districts, and village Toshaos, leaders and councilors.
The joint statement said that the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking will also be launching a series of awareness campaigns across Guyana targeting the demand for “third party commercial sex”, safe reporting and the national referral mechanisms.
Additionally, the New Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 2023 was brought into effect on May 2, 2024 and as a result a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at educating the general populace on the contents of the new Act will be launched in August, 2024.
Capacity building training for Frontline Officials on the new Act will be officially launched tomorrow. This series of training is intended to target one hundred and fifty frontline officials by the end of 2024.
“As we remain steadfast in our commitment to eliminate this heinous crime, it is imperative that everyone remains vigilant for the signs and indicators of human trafficking and report the same to the Counter-Trafficking in Persons 24/7 Hotline on 227-4083 or 623- 5030 or 624-0079 (Spanish) or to any agency on the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Person”, the joint statement added.
Vet
The June 24, 2024 US State Department report found that while Guyana meets the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking it did not vet labour agreements with China and Cuba for trafficking vulnerabilities.
Guyana maintained its tier 1 status and the report said that the government constructed a care home for child migrants, including child trafficking victims; identified more victims and referred them to services; granted more victims residency and work permits; hired more English-Spanish interpreters and other additional staff; and undertook extensive awareness campaigns and training.
“Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not vet labor agreements with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Cuban governments for trafficking vulnerabilities, adequately screen PRC and Cuban workers for trafficking indicators, or conduct sufficient inspections of these nationals’ worksites. The government did not adequately oversee recruitment agencies, prevent worker-paid recruitment and placement fees, or adequately screen for trafficking victims in the interior of the country”.
The report called for increased prosecutions and convictions in sex and labour trafficking cases, including for cases involving child victims.
It also recommended the proactive screening of PRC and Cuban workers, the vetting of labour agreements with the PRC and Cuban governments for trafficking risks, and regular inspections of worksites of PRC and Cuban workers.
The report also recommended increased labour inspections at high-risk worksites in the mining and logging districts.
It also urged that steps be taken to eliminate recruitment or placement fees charged to workers by labour recruiters and to ensure any such fees are paid by employers.
The State Department report also recommended a complete review of existing legislation on labour recruitment and to increase the number of labour inspectors.
Washington also called for the proactive screening of other vulnerable populations, including Haitian migrants, for trafficking indicators, refer them to services, and ensure potential victims are not deported without screening.
It said that the 2023 and 2005 anti-trafficking laws prohibited the penalization of victims for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked. In a previous reporting period, press reports indicated potential Haitian victims illegally in the country may have been arrested, fined, and deported without screening for trafficking indicators.
“Hold convicted traffickers, including complicit officials, accountable by seeking adequate penalties, which should involve significant prison terms”, was another recommendation made in the report.
The report also called on the government to ensure security for victims, especially those residing in government shelters, and their relatives. Further, it wants the government to reduce reliance on victims to serve as witnesses in prosecutions.
The report said that the Guyana Government has bilateral agreements with the Cuban and PRC governments.
“In December 2023, media reported government plans to receive 200 additional nurses in 2024 through the Cuban medical program. The government previously reported most Cuban workers in the country were medical doctors who were paid by the Cuban government while the Guyanese government provided housing and airfare. Cuban government-affiliated medical professionals working in Guyana may have been forced to work by the Cuban government. PRC nationals working on PRC government projects through the Belt and Road Initiative may have been forced to work by the PRC government”, it said.
