A paradigm shift in the fight against the abhorrent crime of human trafficking has been witnessed with the unanimous approval of the 2023 Bill on Combatting Trafficking in Persons yesterday during a sitting of the National Assembly.
Designed to fortify Guyana’s response to human trafficking, the bill encompasses crucial measures in line with international standards and the ever-evolving socio-political landscape.
The bill aims to supplant the outdated 2005 legislation on Combatting Trafficking in Persons, ensuring the protection of individual rights and introducing stringent punitive actions to combat this societal concern and discourage potential offenders.
Addressing the House, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, highlighted the extensive collaboration with local and international bodies.
The objective of this bill is to proffer strategies to combat trafficking in persons, including children. It outlines an array of criminal offences with extraterritorial implications, facilitating collaboration and cooperation between Guyana and other nations to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons. Moreover, it broadens the scope for penalizing offenders, Minister Persaud explained.
Under the new legislation, perpetrators of the offense face a prison term of five years upon summary conviction. Conviction on indictment carries the weighty penalty of life imprisonment.
Minister Persaud also emphasized the significant fines, charges, and convictions applicable to conspiratorial attempts or complicit acts of trafficking.
The bill stipulates the establishment of a ministerial task force, to be appointed by the president. This task force will comprise representatives from diverse sectors, including immigration, law enforcement, legal affairs, foreign affairs, public health, Amerindian affairs, human services, and social security. Chaired by the Ministers of Home Affairs and Human Services, the task force will develop an action plan encompassing critical components addressing trafficking in persons, including the compilation of a comprehensive report based on data collection to be presented to the cabinet, Dr. Persaud underscored.
Voicing his support for the bill, Anil Nandlall, SC, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, advocated for a restitutive approach.
“In order to truly harm criminals, we must hit them where it hurts the most – their finances and their pockets. This concept has been fully embraced in this bill, evident in the fight against money laundering, terrorism, firearms trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking,” emphasized the AG.
Restitution offers victims legal recourse to obtain compensation for withheld profits, additional losses suffered, and future expenses incurred as a result of their trafficking ordeal.
Robeson Benn, the Minister of Home Affairs, revealed that the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit under his ministry has achieved significant milestones in combating human trafficking.
“In 2022, we successfully dealt with 22 cases, apprehending and interrogating the perpetrators, leading to arrests. Additionally, we conducted 22 operations, screening and interviewing 247 potential victims, resulting in one conviction.
In 2023, to date, five cases have been brought before the courts, accompanied by 12 operations. We have interviewed and screened 190 suspected victims, leading to two convictions,” the minister disclosed.
Moreover, the Counter-TIP Unit under the Ministry of Human Services has trained 2,003 individuals to enhance their ability to identify victims of human trafficking.
