GOVERNMENT, through the Ministry of Social Protection and other agencies working collaboratively, will up the ante in its efforts to stamp out human-trafficking, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence has said.She Saturday joined students and teachers of Queens College in a support and awareness drive aimed at stopping the crime of human-trafficking.
Lawrence said that government recognises the negative impacts of human-trafficking and will take proactive measures to address this scourge by putting a system in place that is aimed at its eradication.
After congratulating all those who had organised the event, especially Gabrielle Bacchus and the student body of Queens College, Minister Lawrence said she was heartened by the response from young Guyanese to this call to come out and support the awareness drive aimed at stopping the crime of human- trafficking.
“There is power in numbers and I believe that your presence here today sends a strong message for human vultures who prey on the innocence and vulnerability of persons seeking better economic opportunities.
“We will not condone exploitation and trafficking of persons. We are free beings who should not be coerced into sexual arrangements and exploited for the material gains of others. There is no price attached to humans. Let’s burn the price tag,” Minister Lawrence said.
Adding that needs are infinite and resources finite, the Social Protection Minister said collaboration with young people is essential in addressing social issues. “We believe that you have a greater role to play in the solution of many problems and therefore wish that you would continue to broaden your physical and social networks, so that we can impact more lives.”
She said among the challenges government faces is removing the hinterland population from the periphery of national development.
“As you are aware, it is there that TIP (Trafficking In Persons) mostly occurs. We have to change this. We need to educate more of our people, especially your peers to be suspicious of employment offers that seem too good to be true.
“What better place to start than in school where we have direct access to the young population. Teachers, you have been influential in delivering the academic curriculum, we could use your help to ensure that students are empowered to deal with everyday issues as well.”
The minister also noted that students are extremely important to stopping human-trafficking.
“Speak to your peers about the dangers and how they could say no. Look out for each other to deter recruiters. I sit on the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons and I can tell you of the high level of commitment to prosecute persons charged with the offence of TIP; and the commitment to rehabilitate and reintegrate victims into society. The ministry is also working with NGOs to provided better services and facilities, but what we hope most to achieve, is prevention,” she emphasised.