GUYANA continues to earn international recognition for its strong policies and proactive programmes in the fight against human trafficking, with the latest commendation coming from the Political and Economic Counselor of the U.S. Embassy, Mr Russell Zalizniak.
Speaking on the sidelines of a recent launch event hosted by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit, Zalizniak praised Guyana for its unwavering commitment to tackling trafficking in persons (TIP) head-on.
“I have worked in many countries across every continent on this planet, except for Antarctica, and we’ve never had a partner, at least in my personal experience, that has been so proactive as Guyana,” he said. “As your economy grows, this problem will grow with it, and Guyana has taken a proactive stance to prevent it before it becomes a problem.”
Guyana’s consistent efforts have earned the country a “Tier One” ranking in the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report for eight consecutive years—a milestone the ministry says reflects the country’s sustained commitment to eradicating trafficking at all levels.
Zalizniak further lauded the ministry’s collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and described the work of the C-TIP Unit as a “high point” of his diplomatic service in Guyana.
“I know that at least the assistance we provide is something that is going to good use and will provide benefits here in Guyana and the United States for years to come,” he said.
Empowering Victims, Raising Awareness
Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, underscored the importance of public awareness and community-level engagement in the fight against trafficking.
She noted that while Guyana has comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation in place, efforts must continue to make the public more aware of their rights and the penalties for those who perpetrate or support such crimes.
“It has punitive measures not only for persons who are direct traffickers, but also for people complicit in the act,” the minister said.
Dr Persaud emphasised that the recently launched tools will make information faster, convenient, and accessible to the public, including children.
These include a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for trafficking- in- persons protection; a child-friendly TIP story book designed for readers seven to 16 years-old; four QR codes to allow the public to report trafficking concerns quickly and easily and a simplified, reader-friendly version of the C-TIP Act of 2023, titled “A Victim’s Guide.”

Notably, Minister Persaud revealed that over the past five years, the C-TIP Unit has identified and assisted more than 2,000 victims of trafficking.
This success has been bolstered by the training of some 5,000 frontline workers in the identification, rescue, and care of TIP victims.
For the first time, the C-TIP Unit is also operating with a dedicated budget, which has increased from $40 million to over $60 million, further reinforcing the government’s investment in protecting vulnerable individuals.