THE trial of a trafficking in persons case, in which it is alleged that four under-age girls were recruited from Berbice and transported to Itabali and Oko backdam, in Essequibo, where they were harboured for the purpose of exploitation, began Wednesday. It started, in New Amsterdam, before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo, with the testimony of a now 17-year-old, who is mother of a two-year-old son.
Police have charged Candace Abigale Anderson and her common law husband, Wesley Hart alias ‘Stone’ with the offence. The couple, of Lot 76 Middle Street, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, are on $250,000 bail each.          
The alleged victim related to the court that, last April 15, she was passing a barber shop at Main and Pitt Streets, New Amsterdam, Berbice, when a ‘Rasta’ man asked her if she wanted to work in the bush (interior).
She said she responded in the affirmative and went home. An hour later, the man who had made the offer arrived at her home in a taxi along with Anderson.
The witness said Anderson told her she was going to work at a shop and would be paid $80,000 per week.
The teenager said her grandmother, with whom she lived, was not at home neither was her son, as they had gone to church.
She joined the taxi which was waiting with another man in it and the vehicle proceeded to Angoy’s Avenue, also in New Amsterdam, where her cousin, who is 16, was picked up.
They then proceeded to Demico House in the same town where they had something to eat.
The former Vryman’s Erven Secondary School student did not take anything with her except what she was wearing but her cousin took a bag with clothing.

OTHER GIRLS
The witness said Anderson told her she had clothes to fit her and, after picking up two other girls, they left New Amsterdam for Georgetown in another taxi. After a stop at Stabroek Market in the city, they travelled to  Pouderoyen where Anderson lives.
The witness said, having occupied the back building, they were given something to eat and, the following day, they returned to Georgetown where they purchased clothes and toiletries.
They returned to Anderson’s house at Pouderoyen where a minibus was waiting and it took them to Parika from where they sailed by boat to Bartica.  
The teenager said, at Bartica, Anderson and Hart left them and went out and the cousins stayed at a hotel. They were among three girls in one room while another girl slept in a different room with Anderson’s son.
The witness said, on April 17, they left Bartica by boat and journeyed to Itabali Landing.
She testified: “We were questioned by police. Abigale told us to say we were eighteen years old. The other girls gave different ages, instead of their correct age. Stone and Abigale met us later. They placed us in a cruiser which took us to Oko backdam. The three girls along with Abigale’s son came off the cruiser as they were afraid that the police would not pass them. They took another trail on foot and caught up with us a mile away.”
The teenager recalled that, while they were at Oko backdam, Anderson told them to pack the things which were bought and requested that they take a bath and occupy separate rooms.

DANCE STRIPTEASE
“Abigale’s shop worker gave us Banko and Guinness and I fell to the ground. Two of the other girls were placed to dance striptease for the visiting men. One of the teenagers was menstruating and had to leave regularly to tidy herself. The next day, I left for the road where I met a man and asked him for a telephone call to New Amsterdam. I told my mother Abigale wanted $47,000 before she could release me. The amount dropped to $37,000. Abigale’s son found me, took me back to her, and she slapped my face. She told me I had to ‘pick fares’ to repay her and afterwards locked me in the room,” the witness related.
She said, the following morning, Abigale opened the door and told her to wash the clothes and the sheets she had bought for her and, when she was finished, Abigale took her, two of the other girls and her worker up the hill to make a call to the witness’ mother.
“Abigale told my mother, if she can’t get $27,000 to give the Rasta man, I cannot return home. After the call, Abigale pushed me and I almost fell off the hill. I, eventually left. I met two men and asked them the way out. I, subsequently, arrived at the Itabali Police Station. I was later contacted by two members of the Miners’ Association, to whom I related my story. They also took me to Bartica Police Station,” the witness testified.
The defendants, whose counsel, Mr.  Peter Hugh was absent, declined to cross-examine the witness and the proceedings were adjourned to January 15, 2013.