OVER $12M in assistance for victims and survivors of Trafficking in Persons was spent by the Ministry of Social Protection during 2016 in an effort to combat the crime, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan disclosed last week.

This was revealed in the 2016 Annual Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (MTFTIP) presented during the 83rd sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, 10, January. In the report, Ramjattan, who also serves as Chairman of the MTFTIP, outlined where in 2016, over $2M went to the Ministry of Social Protection, while an additional $10M went in subsidisation of a Non-Governmental Organisation shelter.

Although efforts continue to be expended for the prevention of trafficking in persons in Guyana, the report noted that there are some groups which appear to be more vulnerable than others. As such, victim-protection is an important aspect which was included in the government’s action plan, the minister said.

In 2016, it was noted that persons who were more likely to be susceptible to trafficking in persons are female non-nationals, domestic workers, children from dysfunctional families, under-educated youths, sex workers/exotic dancers, workers seeking better jobs outside of Guyana and young men and women from hinterland communities.

Taking this into consideration, the government provided assistance in the form of food, clothing, shelter, counselling and guidance, legal services and access to employment opportunities, among several other services. The report states that significant efforts were made by the ministry along with the Guyana Police Force and NGOs to ensure that victims were either placed in a safe house or reintegrated with their families as the situation demanded.

Ramjattan said that the crime should be likened to the cruel days of slavery. “It is important that government agents along with all other citizens of Guyana understand that trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery and that today’s injustices must be treated with the same scorn as those of yesteryear,” the minister established.

In addition, although methods of protection are important, the Government of Guyana also found it equally essential to focus on ways in which the country could prevent trafficking in persons. As such, a number of training and sensitisation activities aimed at increasing public awareness and improving the skills of their agents, were conducted by the government.

In March, there was an awareness session at the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre, a market walkthrough in Bartica in April and a week of activities from July 24-30 in commemoration of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

During the week’s activities, the campaign visited Regions One, Four, Seven and Eight and saw the participation of approximately 137 individuals, including several government ministers and U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway.

The activities epitomised a need for every Guyanese citizen to take charge of their personal capacity-building on the issue of human trafficking and how to prevent it, the minister explained. “We all have a responsibility to understand what this crime entails, to recognise the signs, to be observant, and to report suspicious cases to the authorities,” Ramjattan stated in the report, adding: “Silence is violence!”