…several member states on Tier 2
Leaders at the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Montego Bay, Jamaica, have expressed concern that the United States continually places several member states on Tier 2 of the State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
According to the CARICOM Heads, this unilateral rating is likely to affect several countries since those that are placed on Tier 2 for three successive years will be subject to sanctions by the U.S.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heads of Government noted their concern “that the 2010 TIP Report and previous reports issued by the US State Department were not prepared through a consultative process and many of the allegations could not be substantiated.”
CARICOM also repeated calls for the U.S. to provide evidence to support the allegations made in the 2010 TIP report. It noted that its calls for the U.S. to do so have been rejected on previous occasions.
The leaders also reiterated their commitment to combating TIP, while noting the appropriate legislation and policies of prevention, prosecution and victim protection that were implemented by member states to address the issue.
However, they extended an invitation to the US Government to engage in dialogue with the community on this matter in advance of the issuance of the 2011 TIP Report.