THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has announced that it received 32 reports of trafficking in persons (TIP) in 2012. But investigations revealed that only six cases were confirmed and they are presently engaging the Magistrates Courts, Minister with the portfolio, Ms. Jennifer Webster said.
She was speaking at a Monday press conference in the boardroom of the ministry, hosted to highlight the successes of its 2012 programmes and outline the projections for 2013.
Asked how alarmed is the ministry and, by extension, the Government at the situation, Minister Webster said, for the size of this society, the number of instances, while serious, is not cause for alarm.
However, she pointed out that the ministry has been and will continue to investigate every single report of TIP and one of its  main aims is to ensure prosecution.
Webster added that persons need not be confused over the instances of TIP and prostitution.
She explained that the reported TIP cases, when verified, actually involve persons above the age of consent.

Remains small
Webster said while TIP is rated as the world’s second biggest crime, falling on the heels of drug trafficking, nevertheless, the proportion in Guyana remains small, given the size of the society.
She emphasised that the Government of Guyana is committed to ensuring that the TIP cases do not meet the level where they become alarming and uncontrollable.
The minister pledged that, in 2013, various methods will be employed by a task force and, once incidents are reported, they will be thoroughly investigated and sent to the courts.
She disclosed that, at the ministry, there is a counter TIP unit, which also operates a hotline to entertain calls on a 24-hour basis.
Meanwhile, following the news conference on Monday, two news outlets inaccurately published what was said at a previous press conference by Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms. Pauline Sukhai, quoting her as stating that there were no TIP cases in 2012.
However, she spoke in the context of the Amerindian communities and, in retrospect, the six cases which were mentioned are before the courts as indicated by Minister Webster. They were not discovered in Amerindian communities but on the coastland.
While not announced at either media occasion, the Guyana Chronicle was informed that those were found in Regions 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) and 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) and the task force is to release a formal report on the findings from its investigations.