New tools launched to tackle TIP

The fight against human trafficking in Guyana has taken a major step forward.
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit (C-TIP) has launched a set of vital tools aimed at strengthening victim support, raising public awareness, and encouraging greater public involvement.
The launch, held at the Palms Geriatric Home, saw the unveiling of a child-friendly TIP storybook, a simplified guide to the C-TIP Act of 2023 titled “A Victim’s Guide”, a new Standard Operating Procedure, and four QR codes for the public to quickly report trafficking concerns.
In delivering remarks, Human Services Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud described the move as a significant step toward more accessible protection mechanisms.
“We need to make people aware of the legislation and its complementary regulations, which have been in effect since 2023. They are in place to provide the framework of protection for persons who experience trafficking. It has punitive measures not only for direct traffickers, but also for people complicit in the act,” she said.
The minister also emphasised the importance of educating children, as she noted that no child is too young to understand the dangers.
Minister Persaud added that the QR codes and other materials will help make trafficking information faster, more convenient, and accessible to all.
According to the ministry, the C-TIP Unit has already assisted over 2,000 victims in the past five years, training more than 5,000 frontline workers in the process.
This year, for the first time, the unit is operating with its own dedicated budget—up from $40 million to over $60 million.
Guyana’s efforts have earned it a Tier One ranking in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report for eight consecutive years.
That achievement was praised by US Embassy Political and Economic Counselor Russell Zalizniak.
“I’ve worked in many countries across every continent on this planet—except Antarctica—and we’ve never had a partner as proactive as Guyana… As your economy grows, this problem will grow with it. But Guyana is taking a stand to prevent it from becoming an even bigger issue,” he noted.