-reiterates invitation to US Gov’t for meaningful dialogue
CARICOM Heads of Government reinforced their commitment to combating Trafficking in Persons (TIP) at the 32nd Annual Meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis, for which policies of prevention, prosecution and victim protection have been implemented in their respective member states.
They expressed concern at the way that the United States continues to place several CARICOM countries on either Tier 2 or the Tier 2 watch list, bearing in mind the sanctions that the countries that are placed on the latter for three consecutive years will be subjected to. This unilateral rating, they agreed, is likely to affect several CARICOM countries.
The Heads lamented that despite consultations with the relevant authorities, the US State Department continues to issue reports that contain many unsubstantiated allegations and they reiterated their invitation to the US Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with CARICOM member states.
This year, while Guyana has ascended the ladder of the tier ranking system, moving from a tier 2 watch list to a tier 2, Government maintains that this is still not representative of the country’s reality, as no effort has been spared to eliminate trafficking by dealing with those found to be traffickers and by protecting and caring for victims and potential victims.