EFFORTS will be intensified by the Ministry of Social Protection to dismantle criminal networks and have criminals, both traffickers and smugglers, prosecuted, as they represent a direct threat to the lives of people.
This was the assurance of Alicia Jerome-Reis, Ministerial Advisor to the Minister of Social Protection, who said that “…we are committed to the process of implementation of the 2015 recommendations of the ACP-EU (African, Caribbean and Pacific – European Union) Dialogue on Migration and Development.”
She was at the time speaking at the opening session of a peer-to-peer exchange meeting on trafficking in persons (TIP) hosted by the Social Protection Ministry at the Guayna Marriott Hotel. The event was organised by the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and funded by the European Union (EU). The programme will be implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The recommendations of the 2015 ACP-EU Dialogue were elaborated on at an experts’ meeting in July 2014 and validated by the Ambassadors’ meeting in January of 2015. One of the nine recommendations emerging from that dialogue was the need for criminal networks linked to TIP to be dismantled.
It was acknowledged at that forum that trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants are first and foremost about making money, which translates into benefitting from the vulnerability of others.
For that purpose, experts agreed that setting up systems of financial tracking and conducting proper financial investigations going beyond the freezing of assets are of the essence. Additionally, they identified the need for corruption among public officials and other relevant bodies to be tackled, since it is an effective part of the strategies to dismantle and prosecute criminal networks.
Some other recommendations validated at the 2015 forum were: the need to raise awareness regarding trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants; promotion of cross-border and international cooperation among the countries of origin, transit and destination; improved coordination among the different services involved in the field of trafficking at a national level; and enactment of comprehensive legislation on both trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants.
Guyana has in effect the 2005 Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act which prohibits trafficking in all forms, and prescribes sufficiently stringent penalties, ranging from three years to life imprisonment for the said acts.
Just a few months ago, the Government also launched its National Plan of Action for the Prevention and Response to the Trafficking in Persons 2017-2018. And according to the ministerial advisor, the issue of trafficking and smuggling is a global one which can be remedied only through robust, and sustained interventions.
Jerome-Reis also weighed in on Government’s approach to the issue, which she said is manifested through the adoption and implementation of relevant legislation and signing on to International Treaties and Conventions which address trafficking and smuggling.
“The Guyana Constitution explicitly prohibits trafficking in migrants and smuggling of migrants. As a small developing country, we have experienced challenges, but nevertheless Guyana remains committed to the process of combating the trafficking of persons and smuggling of migrants” she said.
The ministerial advisor explained that evidence of Guyana’s efforts is the fact that traffickers are being prosecuted, shelters are being financed and psycho-social services to victims are being enhanced.
While acknowledging that “more needs to be done” in this area, she renewed the ministry’s commitment to implementation of the 2015 recommendations of the ACP-EU Dialogue on Migration and Development.
According to the Government Information News Agency (GINA), in June 2015 Guyana sought technical assistance under the (ACP-EU) Migration Action Programme to improve its visa-processing and issuance system and immigration services to prevent the unregulated inflow of illegal migrants that can leave loop holes for the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons.

Speaking at the event too was IMO Chief of Mission for Guyana and Regional Coordination Officer for the Caribbean, Robert Natiello, who highlighted the various push factors which contribute to human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. Among the factors he identified were: natural disasters, poverty, poor governance, conflict and instability.
However, he was keen to point out the work of the IMO, stressing that the organisation has implemented 182 projects in 110 countries to assist vulnerable migrants around the world. Divulging further, Natiello explained that the IMO trans civil society groups and government officials including police officers, prosecutors, immigration officers and border officials.
He also mentioned the promotion of dialogue and cooperation to counter trafficking at the local, national, regional and international levels.
Like Jerome-Reis, the IMO representative committed, on behalf of the organisation, to work towards effective protection of trafficked women, men, girls and boys as well as the prevention of trafficking, exploitation and abuse of human beings. Participating in the session too, was Guyana’s First Lady, Sandra Granger, who, according to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, did so with the aim of gathering information for her initiatives and programmes which focus primarily on women and young girls.
According to the statement, the First Lady shared her belief that the workshop will provide critical information and resources, which she can use in future programmes and projects.
“It [Trafficking in Persons] is something I really wanted to understand and see what I can learn from the other countries and the participants. There is an aspect on protecting the victims, which I am very interested in. It is a victim-centred approach, which I want to understand,” Ms. Granger said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section of the European Union Delegation to Guyana and Suriname, Derek Lambe, emphasised the need for all local agencies, government entities and organisations to work together and in unison to adequately address these pertinent issues.
The EU representative said that this is the aim of the ACP-EU Dialogue, which is considered a sound basis in the development and implementation of joint resolutions on migration policy.
He too acknowledged that trafficking and smuggling are “very profitable,” multi-million dollar businesses for the criminal networks, which pose challenges not only for the EU and its member states, but also for partner countries.
An optimistic Lambe explained though that the real challenge is to translate the dialogue’s recommendations into concrete action.
“Only in this way the authorities can be supported to provide the most comprehensive response to trafficking and smuggling, [to have] the criminal networks dismantled and victims supported. Our objectives are simple: to stop traffickers and smugglers networks taking advantage of people in distress; to disrupt their structures and business models; and to deprive them of their profits,” he said, adding that the peer-to-peer meeting is an excellent opportunity to work towards those objectives.