World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: “Seek legal employment, safeguard identity documents” – Walrond advises vulnerable group

…warns against elements of deception, exploitation

Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has underscored the need for changes in the approach to tackle the scourge of Trafficking In Persons (TIP), recognising that perpetrators are continually adapting new means of operating.

The Minister highlighted this point in her message on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which was observed on Thursday, July 30.
Walrond, who also acts as the Co-Chair of the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, pointed to the efforts being undertaken to curb human trafficking in Guyana. These include public awareness campaigns in some 51 communities across six Administrative Regions, benefiting more than 4000 persons.
She added that specialised anti-trafficking training strengthened the capacity of law enforcement officers, healthcare workers, educators, community leaders, and other frontline responders. In fact, the Home Affairs Minister noted that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) also continued proactive screening operations, interviewing 235 persons for indicators of trafficking, resulting in charges being laid against two foreign nationals.
Walrond pointed out that while these are tangible examples of a Government translating commitment into action, there is more work to come, especially when it comes to enhancing the national response to curb human trafficking.
“Traffickers continually adapt their methods, exploiting economic hardship, migration, technology, and human vulnerability. Our response must therefore remain equally dynamic, intelligence-driven, and uncompromising,” she asserted.

Speak up
In the same breath, the Minister, however, highlighted the need for the involvement of the Guyanese public in these efforts to tackle tip. She said the theme of this year’s observance, “Stronger Connections, Stronger Futures: Together Against Human Trafficking”, reminds us that defeating trafficking requires a whole-of-society response.
Walrond acknowledged that Governments alone cannot eradicate this crime and that success depends on strong partnerships among law enforcement, Government agencies, civil society, the Private Sector, faith-based organisations, international partners, and, critically, an informed and vigilant public.
“Today, I call upon every Guyanese to become part of our national response. Human trafficking often hides in plain sight. It survives where communities remain silent and where exploitation goes unreported. Every citizen has a role to play. Be vigilant. Speak up. Protect those at risk. Stand beside victims and survivors with compassion and dignity,” she urged.
Nevertheless, Walrond outlined plans to continue strengthening investigations, increasing labour inspections, enhancing prosecutions, expanding victim support services, and deepening collaboration with local, regional, and international partners.

Know your rights
In Guyana, most of the human trafficking cases involve victims who are foreign nationals. These victims are often exploited by Guyanese persons or by other foreign nationals. Only in May, two Cuban nationals were remanded to prison after being slapped with multiple charges stemming from an alleged human trafficking operation in Prashad Nagar, Greater Georgetown.
Based on the facts presented in court, one of the accused, 32-year-old Raudel Ramirez Valverde, also known as “Pitulin”, recruited the female victim by means of deception for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Valverde is also accused of confiscating the victim’s passport in furtherance of trafficking.
This comes on the heels of the Guyana Police Force, back in February, screening some 77 Cuban nationals at a house in Georgetown to determine whether they were victims of TIP after they alleged that their passports were held until they paid dues.
Against this background, Walrond called on foreign nationals as well as other vulnerable persons to be wary of whom they turn to for employment. She noted that as Guyana continues to experience unprecedented economic growth and increased migration, the country remains equally committed to protecting every person from exploitation.
“Opportunity should never become a pathway to abuse,” Walrond contended, while also appealing “…directly to migrants and other vulnerable persons: seek employment only through legitimate channels; safeguard your identity documents; know your rights; and report any attempts at coercion, deception, or exploitation. Your safety and dignity matter, and the Government of Guyana remains committed to protecting both.”
She went on to note that the Government will continue to strengthen local laws, modernise institutions, expand partnerships, and relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit others for personal gain. Already, the Home Affairs Ministry completed the full digitalisation of immigration and visa applications and payments this year, making legitimate migration pathways more accessible while reducing opportunities for exploitation through informal channels.
“Human trafficking has no place in our society, and together we will continue building a country where every individual can pursue opportunity in safety, dignity, and freedom… We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to preventing and combating human trafficking, protecting victims and survivors, and ensuring that those who profit from human suffering are brought to justice,” the Minister stated.
Guided by the 2026-2030 National Action Plan for the Prevention and Response to Trafficking in Persons and the strengthened legislative framework provided through the amended Combating of TIP Act 2023 and its Regulations, Guyana continues to reinforce its national response. This has resulted in expanded victim-centred services, intensified public education campaigns, strengthened intelligence-led enforcement, enhanced regional and international cooperation, and investment in the training of frontline officers to improve prevention, identification, and prosecution efforts.
These sustained efforts continue to receive international recognition. In fact, for the ninth consecutive year, Guyana has been ranked Tier One in the United States Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report – something that Minister Walrond says is an acknowledgement of the continued commitment to meeting the highest international standards in combating trafficking.
She, however, recognised that this achievement is not an endpoint but a responsibility to continue improving local systems, strengthening institutions, and delivering even greater protection for vulnerable people.