HOW can Guyana be placed on this disgraceful TIP watch list for the second time? What evidence does the US have to support its claim of widespread trafficking in Guyana and if so are the statistics in Guyana enough to warrant the country’s placement on this list? As Guyanese should we not have a right to decide our location of residence and our means of livelihood? These are some of the questions that should consume the minds of all Guyanese.
The US says in its report “clear evidence of your government’s overall increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the coming months, particularly along the lines of the goals of the recommendation section of the narrative and action plan could help avoid a possible downgrade to “Tier 3”. Does the US expect the Guyana government to pass legislation to ensure convictions of every person brought before our courts for human trafficking? Our judiciary acts and should act as an independent body. We are all innocent until proven guilty and if the courts decide that a conviction is unjustified then it is.