Police, citizens in fight against trafficking in persons

Law enforcement agencies and residents in Berbice, Region Six, have been at the centre of several training exercises as the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) continues widespread sensitisation sessions.
The Ministerial Taskforce on TIP on Thursday engaged in a series of capacity-building and public awareness initiatives in the region as part of its ongoing commitment to combating human trafficking in Guyana.
The Home Affairs Ministry, in a public update, said members of its staff, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, and the Guyana Police Force’s TIP Unit conducted the Trafficking in Persons training course at the Felix Austin Police College – Adventure, Berbice Branch.
The training targeted members of the Community Policing Groups and ranks from the Traffic, General Duties, Special Constabulary, and Criminal Investigation Departments of Regional Police Division Six.

Simultaneously, other representatives of the taskforce hosted a public awareness session at the New Amsterdam Market area, where community members were sensitised on how to identify and respond to the various forms of trafficking in persons. These sessions, the ministry said, aim to equip the public with critical information and strengthen community-based vigilance.
Guyana continues to be lauded for its firm stance against the crime of TIP. The US State Department’s TIP Report 2024 said that Guyana had increased prosecution efforts and made significant inroads in identifying and rescuing TIP victims.
The Ministerial Taskforce reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the prevention, protection, and the pursuit of justice for victims of TIP. It said that through continued education, enforcement, and engagement, the taskforce seeks to dismantle networks of exploitation and safeguard the rights and dignity of all persons, particularly the most vulnerable.