THE National Toshaos Council yesterday refuted claims made in the United States State Department Report on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) 2010 which indicates that Amerindian women and children are forced into prostitution and child labour.
The council stated that it is unhappy with the contents of the report since it is unaware of any widespread incidences of TIP let alone forced prostitution among Amerindian women and children.
It was highlighted that the council is supportive of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Focal Point on HIV/AIDS Programme which encompasses other social issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, child abuse and domestic violence and education on the possible risks of TIP.
Hundreds of residents inclusive of women in North Pakaraimas, North and South Rupununi, Upper Mazaruni, and Regions One and Six have benefited from the programme, NTC stated.
“The awareness programme is the correct approach in empowering our hinterland residents who include Amerindians, so that they make right life choices and avoid any possible situation that can lead to abuse,” the NTC release said.
It further noted that the US TIP Report 2010 omitted the TIP specific awareness efforts made by Government which constitute efforts to mitigate Guyanese being entrapped in any of the situations to which the report alluded.
The practice of children accompanying adults to farms and other work related environment which are usually located miles away from home during out of school periods cannot be deemed child labour since it is a tradition in Amerindian families, the council noted.
NTC affirmed that Guyana is never known to be a source country where children or women are confined into a situation of modern day slavery.
The body deems that the report is inaccurate and creates a distorted image of the situation of indigenous women and children in Guyana that is far from the truth.
“We object to the insinuations conveyed in the report and find it inexplicable that the report does not even speak to the issue of the progress that Amerindians have made in this country,” NTC stated.