Today, Mr. Daniel Griffith, the Coordinator of the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, explained the steps the Unit has taken to maintain Guyana’s tier 1 position in the wake of the Trafficking in Persons Report 2023.
The Trafficking in Persons Report compiled by the United States State Department measures the efforts undertaken by Governments to combat trafficking in persons worldwide. Griffith noted that there are four tiers or categories, with tier 1 being the highest and ranking nations based on the amount of effort put in and sustained. He stated that Guyana and Bahamas were the Caribbean countries occupying tier 1 in 2023.
Mr. Griffith highlighted that the primary role of the Trafficking in Persons Unit is to “fund initiatives and counter trafficking in persons in Guyana”. He went on to say that the TIP Unit conducts operations, sensitizations, and training sessions with law enforcement officers, medical professionals, social service staff, and immigration officers who are the key frontline officers. The TIP Coordinator underscored the prevalence of Trafficking in Persons in all ten (10) of the Administrative Regions, stating that eradicating Human trafficking is “a continuous effort”.
Mr. Griffith highlighted that the amendment of the legislation governing the phenomenon of human trafficking has resulted in an “exponential increase” in the offences, persecution, and convictions. He stated that this new Act has added new offenses like the involvement of a child in the production of narcotics which is now classified as trafficking in person