COLLABORATION between Guyana and its Brazilian counterparts will result in the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries in responding to cross-border Trafficking in Persons (TIP), according to Ministry of Public Security, Public Relations Officer Mary Adams.

Twenty-two interpreters are now recipients of TIP training, as the Ministerial Task Force on TIP intensifies its work in equipping various stakeholders with the necessary skills of combating TIP.

The training course which was held recently at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre, also included Brazil’s participation as was agreed at the Guyana Frontier Committee and Consular Cooperation Meeting in October 2018.

According to Adams, Portuguese language training will be provided for Guyanese TIP officials and for the Ministry of Social Protection. TIP awareness materials are expected to be translated from English to Portuguese

“[This is for] the Brazilian Embassy to participate in the TIP training course to be provided for interpreters. And for the continuation of collaboration between authorities from Guyana and Brazil in conducting TIP awareness in border areas,” Adams said.

Also participating in the training course were representatives of the Immigration and Criminal Investigations Departments of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the National Commission on Disability, University of Guyana, Childlink, L&L Translation Services, Language Services Centre and Foreign Missions from Chile, China, Suriname and Argentina.

Trainers/presenters were enlisted from the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Guyana Police Force Trafficking in Persons Unit and the Immigration Department, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Childcare and Protection Agency – Ministry of Social Protection, Guyana Women Miners Organisation, Help and Shelter, Childlink, the International Organisation for Migration and the Brazilian Embassy.

The taskforce, on October 18-21 and 30-31 respectively, collaborated with their Brazilian counterparts for anti-TIP activities and discussions in Lethem and Bonfim.

The activities took the form of awareness sessions and the sharing of information at St. Ignatius Secondary, Lethem Public Hospital, Moco Moco Village, Parishara Village, Quarry Village and via Lethem Radio during Lethem Town Week. The Task Force also collaborated with the TIP Committee of the State of Roraima to conduct awareness sessions in hotels in Lethem, and through information booths at the Town Week exhibition.

Additionally, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) made it possible for the winners of the Task Force TIP Poetry Competition – Lorraine Baptiste (1st), Thamesha Watson (3rd) and Ruth Manbodh (4th) – and the winner of the Ministry of Social Protection TIP Jingle Competition – Mr. Rashleigh Joseph, to join the Task Force team and make performances of their winning pieces on Radio Lethem and at the Ms. Lethem Pageant.