44 foreign women rescued in TIP bust

A total of 44 female foreign nationals were reportedly rescued following a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) operation at a popular nightclub along Robb Street, Georgetown on Monday evening.
The women were reportedly taken into protective care, and an investigation has been launched into the alleged acts of TIP and other forms of exploitation and abuse.
Additionally, law enforcement officials discovered a .32 Taurus pistol and eight rounds of ammunition on the premises.
The operation was executed by the Home Affairs Ministry, the TIP Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force and the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s Countering-TIP Unit.
The operation was initiated based on intelligence received.
The US Department of State’s 2023 TIP Report, which was released in June 2023, stated that for the seventh consecutive year, Guyana has maintained its Tier 1 status, which signifies that the Government demonstrates serious and sustained efforts to combat TIP during the reporting period.
Guyana is one of two – the other being The Bahamas – Caribbean Community (Caricom) members that were given Tier 1 ranking in that TIP report.
Among these efforts, according to the State Department, were the conviction of three traffickers; identification of more victims and their referral to services; consistent implementation of a 10-day reflection period, inclusive of shelter for victims; raising TIP awareness in Indigenous languages; expanding the inclusivity of the Ministerial Task Force on TIP ; and initiating a programme to screen children in homeless situations.
However, the report noted that although the Guyana Government met the minimum standards, it neither increased investigations and prosecutions nor formally approved the National Action Plan (NAP). The Government also did not adequately oversee recruitment agencies or adequately screen for trafficking victims in the interior of the country.
However, prior to the release of the 2023 report, in May 2023, the Government had taken an aggressive approach towards ending the scourge of human trafficking, with the passing of the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill 2023 in the National Assembly.
The robust and comprehensive legislation strengthened Guyana’s response to human trafficking, as it is constituted with key measures that are aligned with global best practices and evolving socio-political requirements.
It sought to replace the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill of 2005, thereby protecting the rights of individuals and inserting punitive measures that are geared towards addressing the social issue and deterring possible offenders.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud had informed the House that the Bill received extensive work from local and international bodies, as well as wide consultations.