Police Sergeants undergoing Trafficking in Persons training
Sergeants from several police stations across the country are being trained better handle Trafficking in Persons (TIP) cases. The training which is being facilitated by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit commenced on Thursday at the Officers Training Centre, Eve Leary, Georgetown. Delivering remarks at the opening of the training were Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, Acting Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie and Coordinator (ag.), Countering Trafficking in Persons Unit (CTIP), Tanisha Williams-Corbin.
Minister Persaud said that the training will ensure that Police ranks are equipped to handle TIP cases. She noted that it is imperative that TIP networks be destroyed, and to let perpetrators of such crimes know that “we mean serious business”. The Minister described trafficking of persons as TIP is modern-day slavery as she pointed out it destroys lives. She explained this is why it should not be tolerated. In this regard, the Minister urged participants to take every aspect of the training seriously and apply it to halt the process of of the illegal activity, “trafficking will not go away unless we help to make it go away,” Minister Persaud said, “it requires education, awareness, training, and intervention according to protocols, standard operating procedures, laws and regulations,” she said. The Minister implored the officers to be passionate, “be passionate advocates against TIP and most importantly be passionate custodians of the safety and security of people so that we can stop the scourge,” she maintained.
The Minister’s remarks mirrored the sentiments of Police Commissioner Hoppie who pointed out that this is a crime of exploitation, “persons makes this inhumane act possible through the deception of men, women and children, these victims are forced into exploitative situations daily,” the Commissioner said. According to the Commissioner of Police, the laws of Guyana prohibits all forms of TIP and provides for stringent measures and penalties from three years to life imprisonment, along with the forfeiture of properties for offenders and full restitution to victims.
Guyana has retained its Tier 1 ranking in the latest TIP Report of the United States Department of State, which was released on June 25, 2020. This is the fourth consecutive year that Guyana received a Tier 1 ranking.
