Police prosecutors better equipped to handle TIP cases

Prosecutors of the Guyana Police Force are now better equipped with the necessary skills to successfully present a Trafficking In Person (TIP) case in court, following a training course by the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking In Persons.
The training will also enable prosecutors to use evidence effectively to prove perpetrators guilty, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. The training course was held at the Guyana Police Force Officers’ Training Centre and is in line with the combating of Trafficking In Persons Act No. 2 of 2005, while taking international best practices into consideration.

The prosecutors received training in identification, prevention and prosecution as it relates to TIP. They also highlighted some of the challenges they faced when prosecuting a TIP case and shared several success stories.
Task Force Coordinator (ag) from the Public Security Ministry, Oliver Profit, said that the Task Force is aware of the challenges that Prosecutors face when building and prosecuting TIP cases.
However, he noted that these challenges can be solved with team work among the different agencies. Profit added that Task Force will also be assessing the needs of Police Prosecutors with regard to similar cases locally.
Additionally, the Task Force will be creating a network with prosecutors whereby they can review successes, failures and make recommendations to improve future TIP cases.
Presentations to the prosecutors highlighted definition, the act and means of Trafficking In Persons. Additionally, Profit outlined the four key areas that the Task Force is functioning by. These include prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships.
Additionally, Probation and Social Services Officer from the Social Protection Ministry Counter-Trafficking In Persons (C-TIP) Denise Ralph said the Ministry has been working tirelessly to assist victims of TIP. She noted a number of victims, who are in the Ministry’s care, are enrolled in number of courses. These include cosmetology, home management among other areas.
Trafficking In Persons mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use by force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving and receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organ.
A number of Ministries, non-government organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders will be working together to combat TIP. Several awareness campaigns, which will target schools, are planned throughout the year to sensitise youths on human trafficking.
The Social Protection Ministry’s Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) The C-TIP unit is also planning a local documentary on human trafficking. This is aimed at eradicating the myth that trafficking only entails sex workers. The possibility of conducting street theatres is also explored.
The unit intends to develop and pilot test a TIP module that is to be implemented in primary and secondary schools by the end of next year.
The unit will continue to work with its partners including the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and the Guyana Women Miners Organisation to conduct outreaches in the various regions.