Venezuelan women most trafficked in Guyana – Police

Data released by the Guyana Police Force Counter-Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Unit has revealed that Venezuelan women were the most trafficked for 2021. There are 49 alleged human trafficking victims for this year of which 44 are females; the remaining five are males. Of the 44 females, 34 of them are Venezuelan nationals, six of them are Guyanese and the other four are Jamaicans.
As for the nationality of the males, two are Guyanese and another two are Jamaicans. The other victim is an Indian national. This information was revealed during a recent webinar hosted by the Guyana Association of Women Judges and the Supreme Court of Judicature – Justice Education Institute to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which is observed on July 30 annually.
This year was observed under the theme “Victims’ Voices lead the Way”.
Fourteen cases of human trafficking were reported and they spanned Region One (Barima-Waini); Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). One case was recorded as unknown, while another was listed as the United States of America.
Five of the cases came from Region Four, two each was reported in Regions Seven and 10, while one each was recorded in Regions One, Two, and Six. Meanwhile, of the 14 reported cases, three each were recorded in January and February from which there were one male victim and seven female victims, respectively. Two cases were reported in March from which there were four female victims.
As it relates to April, five cases were reported this month; there were 22 victims – 18 females and four males. There was one case of TIP in May which resulted in 15 female victims.
Over the years, Trafficking In Persons has remained one of the hidden crimes in Guyana due to the difficulties in detecting it.
The restrictions imposed on indoor and public social gatherings to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have dampened the efforts of the Police Force Counter-TIP Unit in terms of conducting countrywide inspections. Police Sergeant Ranatha McBean, who is attached to that Unit, revealed that bar owners are adopting “other methods” of perpetrating human trafficking during the pandemic.
According to her, this is making it difficult for law enforcement officers to detect instances of the crime. She disclosed that the traffickers are now finding other means to lure their victims. According to her, these include parties being held at private locations, advertisements of half-naked women on social media, escort services, and victims being delivered to the homes of clients.
Meanwhile, Guyana has maintained its Tier One status for the fifth consecutive year – this was highlighted in the United States State Department 2021 TIP Report.
Reacting to this achievement, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan said, “the fact that Guyana has maintained its Tier 1 status over the years and continues to have successful prosecutions even during a pandemic is testimony to the work being done and the progress made by the Judiciary and all stakeholders in relation to Trafficking In Person prosecutions in Guyana. We are up at the top and we are proud of it.”