By Vanessa Braithwaite

THEY each occupy a room in a dilapidated wooden shack which has space to accommodate only a makeshift bed. During the day, they lie their tired heads on worn out mattresses consumed with bed bugs, and the fortunate ones protect themselves from attacking mosquitoes with sheets. Their clothes are still in their suitcases, while their cosmetics and make-up line the corners of their beds. Above each head is a tied line where underwear and towels are displayed. The most luxuriant thing in their tiny rooms is the display of six-inch heels that line pockmarked walls.These are the conditions which girls, mostly non-nationals, are forced to accept from their “bosses”. They are each described as a mere piece of property: full-time for their bosses and part-time for their clients.

A team headed by Junior Minister of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, on Saturday embarked on a mission to seek out the concerns of minors and pork- knockers in the mining backdam of Takutu Landing in Region Seven. Her attention was, however, shifted from the intent of the trip after she spotted two girls running away from the scene as they sighted the minister and her team approaching.

Officers of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the police’s Tactical Service Unit began searching a shack close by a rumshop and bar, and observed female belongings there, although no female was in sight.

The caretaker told the ministerial team that the property is owned by one “Julie”, and the girls are ‘borrowed’ from a man named “Junior”, who operates a bar at Puruni Landing.

“Is seven girls ah bring; three ah them supposed to come back this afternoon… I just ask Junior to borrow them girl; me don’t hire them girl, cuz me and Junior aright; he own them, he ah bring them in,” the caretaker said.

The caretaker also revealed that the owner of the premises, Julie, had asked him to source some girls from Berbice, where he resides; but he was unable to do so, so he sourced them from Junior.

As the officers searched the room for any clues as to who may be their occupants, it was concluded that the rooms were permanent residence for the girls, as there were a lot of dirty clothes tossed in a corner of one room, while, in another, the officers found a cell phone.

“Who would go away and leave their cell phone and purse?” they asked the caretaker, who was giving conflicting stories and changing his name.
CAUGHT RED-HANDED
As the officers continued their search, one of the occupants returned “home” in very revealing clothes. She was immediately questioned and was asked to show her documents. The Colombian national revealed that she was living in the shack for the past three months; and, contrary to the caretaker’s story, she does not even know who is Junior.

The woman said she is an illegal immigrant, but is trying to get an extension to her five-year visa which has expired. The girl, who can barely speak English, revealed to this publication that she dances and strips in the bar at nights, but often goes away and returns in the morning.

Asked why she lives in such deplorable conditions, she said she prefers it here in Guyana: “I prefer here than Colombia; it better here….I here five years now, but I went home and come back three months now. My visa expire, so I went for extension. I make money here,” she said as she looked for her identification document to verify her age.

The caretaker, who at this time was trying to drive away with a girl whom he had previously introduced as his girlfriend, was approached for more questioning but was unable to give the officers the name of “his girlfriend”.
It was then that suspicions arose that the woman might have also been ‘borrowed’.

The team then journeyed to Puruni, where Junior allegedly operates. The caretaker had said that Junior has about 20 girls who may be illegal immigrants working for him. On arrival at the Puruni Landing, Junior was found sitting calmly on a bench. He was asked to bring out everyone who may be residing at the premises.

The team found two teenage boys; one claimed to be a DJ and the other a cook. Asked about the whereabouts of the girls, Junior said they had already left. The caretaker, who earlier had told police that he had borrowed the girls from Junior, was seen in Puruni. One of the policemen surmised that Junior had been tipped off and the girls were sent away before the arrival of the minister and her team.

PREVIOUS ARREST
Junior was arrested in 2015 after Minister Broomes and a team from the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) and the police had conducted a raid at the Platinum Bar in Bartica, where some 27 non-nationals who were suspected of being trafficked were rescued.

Nine of those persons, who were from the Dominican Republic; three who were from Venezuela; 12 who were from Brazil, and three who were from Colombia were held. Of the 27 persons, four were charged with overstaying their time in Guyana, and seven were charged with illegal entry. Junior is said to have restarted operation, sourcing girls in Puruni.

As the team conducted its investigation around the little community, there were mixed responses from the residents. One man said, “Y’all doing a good job! Y’all keep up de good work! They can’t come here and take over we country!” But another man contended: “They come to take way we girls. What pork-knocker gon do now, boy?”

The GGMC officers have revoked the licence granted to Junior and ordered the officers stationed at Puruni to close down the shop.

Minister Broomes, in an invited comment, said her concern lies with the safety of the women, as they are often taken advantage of.

“They can’t make a complaint, because they frighten because they don’t know anyone. They are not straight, and they (already) have this language barrier and all of that (to contend with). They don’t know that this is what they coming to (do). When you come, they don’t know anybody, they can’t talk to nobody,” Broomes said.

The law allows for any adult being trafficked to make a choice: whether to stay in the country and be granted a decent job, or to return home safely to their families.