Fire service recruits trained to identify human trafficking victims

Thirty recruits of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) are participating in training aimed at helping them identify and respond to suspected cases of human trafficking.
The session is being held on Tuesday at the GFS Training School in Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD). According to the GFS, the training, which was organised by the Home Affairs Ministry through the Secretariat of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons, is intended to familiarise recruits with the fundamentals of human trafficking and equip them to recognise potential cases they may encounter while performing their duties.

The programme, the fire service said, covers the various forms of exploitation associated with trafficking in persons, indicators of trafficking, and the importance of adopting a human rights-based approach when dealing with suspected victims.
Participants are also being trained to identify situations involving potential adult and child victims. Head of the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit, Inspector Marilyn Rodney was among the presenters who discussed with the recruits ways of identifying potential victims. The programme also includes a presentation on offences under the Combating Trafficking in Persons Act No. 7 of 2023.
Another area of focus is the appropriate response to suspected victims, including reporting and referral procedures. The session includes case studies, role-play exercises and group discussions, allowing recruits to examine possible scenarios and consider how they should respond to suspected trafficking situations encountered while on duty. The 30 recruits are the first batch identified to participate in the training programme.