IN keeping with engagements with the administration of the United States of America, following the 2010 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) reports on several CARCOM countries and the consequential protest by the CARICOM Heads of Government on July 4, 2010, as well as bilateral engagements between the Government of Guyana and the US administration, a high level team from the Government of Guyana met with the Chargй d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Guyana, Mr. Thomas Pierce and Mr. Patrick Ball. The meeting was held on Tuesday and lasted for approximately three hours.
The Guyana team was headed by Clement Rohee, Minister of Home Affairs and Chair of the Ministerial Task Force on Combating Trafficking in Persons; Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Priya Manickchand, Minister of Human Services and Social Security; Manzoor Nadir, Minister of Labour; Gail Teixeira, Presidential Adviser on Governance; Trevor Thomas, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security; and Mr. James, Secretary to the Ministerial Task Force.
For the first time, in keeping with the understanding adumbrated at previous engagements with the US administration, the Government of Guyana was consulted and invited to submit its responses for the year ending April 2011 in relation to its efforts to combat TIP.
In a candid and cordial atmosphere, the ministers elaborated on the measures that have been implemented and expanded over the reporting period. Guyana’s submission was framed on the benchmarks set out by the US Congress in Sections 108 and 110 of the US Trafficking and Victims Protection Act.
Guyana reiterated that it did not accept the findings of the 2010 Report and the ranking of Guyana for the second year as a Tier 2 Watch List country, and made it very clear that it expected a fair and accurate assessment in 2011. It reminded that reputable non-governmental organizations involved with the combating of TIP campaigns and support systems had also publicly expressed their objection to the 2010 report.
The Government team went to great lengths to elaborate on the number of new interventions in the last year, as well as the continuation and enhancement of those that commenced several years ago, which have sensitized the public and facilitated reporting mechanisms. The creation of Community Focal Points in the regions and the inclusion of training for officers of the Guyana Forestry and the Geology and Mines Commission on trafficking in persons were also highlighted. The sensitisation of communities and the MHSSS hot line had provided valuable information which assisted in identifying several cases. The team, however, stated that on investigation, it was found that not all such reports were trafficking cases.
The team however underlined that these interventions were important in building confidence and were an important tool for addressing social problems, including the crime of combating trafficking in persons.   
The delegation noted that Guyana had also ratified the International Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families in 2010, and that there were enhanced cross border anti-crime efforts (including trafficking in persons) among Guyana, Suriname and Brazil on the continent, and at the regional level with sister CARICOM countries under the Treaty on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. However, it noted that there was no foreign victim of trafficking nor was there any request for extradition in relation to TIP in 2010.
Guyana presented its written submissions to the US Chargй  d’ Affaires which, among other things, stated that in 2010 there were five investigations undertaken,   four reports of TIP with six victims (three below the age of 18) had led to three prosecutions and one successful conviction where the offender had been sentenced to three years imprisonment.
Acknowledging that there might be information that has not come to the Government’s attention, the members of the Guyana Government indicated that in the interest of combating the scourge of TIP, it was prepared to receive and investigate any information that the US Embassy officials may have received in relation to TIP. They further emphasized that such information-sharing should not be restricted to or arise only at the time of preparing the US Annual Report on TIP. 
The Government team reiterated that there was political will, procedures, measures and programmes in place to address the issue of TIP.
They also pointed to a series of other interventions, such as the GoG/IDB Citizen Security and the Justice Reform Programmes, the USAID “Ruling Justly” programme, the government programmes such as youth training for the poor and disadvantaged,  the Single Parent Assistance Programme and Women of Worth micro-credit programme for women, which, while not exclusively focused on TIP, enhanced the preventative, restorative and prosecutorial capabilities of the country to address combating trafficking in persons.
Given all the measures that have been put in place by Guyana and the frank and cordial engagement with the US Embassy Chargй d’ Affaires, the Guyana team expects that the US 2011 Report on TIP would be a fair and accurate representation of the situation in Guyana.