Georgetown: The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security continues to raise awareness on the issue of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), recognising the negative effects the scourge has on society. Its most recent awareness outreach was in Region One to educate residents on the issue .
Officials included Tricia Watson, Coordinator of the TIP Unit, Ministry of Human Services, Pastor Wesley Albert, Probation Officer, Trevor Benn, Representative of the UNDP and Oliver Profitt, representing the Ministry of Home Affairs among others. The event was sponsored and funded by the UNDP.
Human trafficking can be defined as an organised criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (being forced into prostitution or involuntary labour).
Officials of the team conducted sessions and a workshop at the Port Kaituma Secondary School at which representatives from Sebai, Baramita, Oronoque, One Mile, Four Miles, Canal Bank and Arakaka participated.
The sensitisation workshop began with finding out what residents knew and understood about TIP and what it meant to them. Team Leader Watson explained the different ways in which persons could be deceived and taken advantage of. “We have had pastors, cousins, mothers, teachers and police officers involved. Anybody can be a trafficker,” she warned. She encouraged participants not to fall for fake promises and urged them to pass the word around.
The workshop explained what is TIP, the profile of a trafficker, the different kinds of human trafficking, children as special cases and victim support.
Legal explanations about TIP according to the Combating Trafficking of Persons Act of 2005 were given, and emphasis placed on the three specific points which identify TIP and was thoroughly discussed so persons were able to positively identify a case. Explanations were also made on the misunderstanding and the misuse of the term TIP. Real life situations of exploitation were examined in detail with interactive sessions.
The sessions also revealed that there were genuine concerns in some communities with cases bordering or being misunderstood as being TIP, but which could not be classified as such. These situations were clarified when persons mentioned them.
Watson explained that while a few cases have been legally certified, the Unit has many alleged cases. She explained that as soon as a report is received victim support is extended and continues despite the lack of convictions and proof.
Oliver Profitt warned that anybody could be trafficked. “Human Trafficking is modern day slavery and we all need to be aware,” he warned.
Trevor Benn of the UNDP, whose role is to monitor the event, pointed out the tremendous challenges around the world regarding TIP. He noted that it is one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world, second only to drug trafficking and a lot of money is made from it. Benn said it is important that the impact of TIP and how it is felt to individuals and communities be known so that they can be made aware and prepared. He noted that the state of the communities in Region One makes it more likely to be targeted, hence the importance of reaching out.
UNDP has been supporting the Ministries of Human Services and Home Affairs in combating TIP for some time. Benn added that the aim is to ensure that the communities are well sensitised on the issue.
Patrick Findlay, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Human Services Ministry noted that the UNDP financed workshop was a good one to help in the campaign against TIP which hurts people. “You are going to be able to teach your people about TIP,” he said.
Pastor Wesley Albert, Probation Officer in Region One, urged that smaller children be taught about TIP, pointing out that parenting is an important ingredient in addressing the issue. He urged participants to return to their communities and apply what they learnt and spread the word. Pastor Albert also urged them to be careful when investigating cases and explained the frustration of the legal court system and the withdrawal of the victims from cases.
Toshao of Sebai Vincent Emanuel explained that the issue of human trafficking is important in Amerindian communities where more information and opportunities to learn is needed. “You could be caught up without knowing, many people in Amerindian communities have been caught up, especially because of finance,” he pointed out.
He believed that the workshop is good and programmes like those should have been reaching more remote areas where persons can learn more. Toshao Emanuel explained that he knows for a fact that persons don’t take the issue seriously. He observed that as a member of the National Toshaos Council, they would invite persons from the TIP unit to talk to them so they could in turn pass the message on to residents in their communities.
Workshops are good he noted, so people could get themselves ready to face persons attempting trafficking. The Toshao pointed out that if the Amerindian Act is used in communities “we can save persons from TIP, since you have to make agreements with the village council.” Toshaos are supposed to be educated on this to prevent TIP, “telling the village council of your situation can help,” he noted.
Participant Lovely Mendonca said that the workshop was beneficial to her and colleagues. “It helped us to learn how we can prevent human trafficking in our communities and our country.”
Alan Henry said the workshop educated him on how human trafficking can come about and how one can be caught up in it. “I would like to educate my peers about it,” he stated.
Sabrina emphasised the need to be careful and urged her fellow youths to be careful of the friends they make and to stick to their education plans in order to become independent when grown.
Neville La Rose of Citrus Grove called for more training and workshops and was encouraged to have his community extend invitations to the TIP Unit to visit.
The outreach ended with a walkabout sensitisation at Big Creek where members of the team spoke to esidents about TIP and encouraged them to be on the lookout for cases and to join in its prevention.
Following the workshops, there will also be a ‘Train the Trainer’ session in Georgetown which will include persons from the communities which participated. This will see a larger and continuous sensitisation in hinterland communities.
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