TWO women from Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), have reported that they were victims of human trafficking a few years ago.
The first, Mary Jones, said that she became a victim of trafficking in persons when she was hired to work as a cook in one of the mining camps, but ended up working as a prostitute.
Jones, in commending Ms Bibi Shadick, Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, for her efforts to inform Guyanese about the evils of TIP (Trafficking In Persons), said that too many persons are exploited just because they need employment.
The other woman, Lucille Bourne, also found herself in a similar situation after the job she took as a housekeeper, entailed her selling in a store, among other chores, which were not part of her initial contract.
Another resident complained about her under-aged son being lured away to work in the gold mines without her consent. She explained that the employers were not keen on her son returning home despite her many pleas.
She said, she is aware of similar incidents in the community and urged the Ministry to clamp down on such practices.
Minister Shadick encouraged all residents of Bartica to be their brother's keeper and to report incidents, which are considered as Trafficking In Persons and child abuse.
She said there are a number of places where people are vigilant and are reporting incidents to the Police, but that this must be intensified.
The Minister stressed the fact that TIP involved all types of exploitation. This includes recent incidents of Guyanese teachers in the United States being cheated of contracts, which they had signed. She said this is a form of TIP.
According to the Minister, Thursday's legislation on TIP will be tabled in the National Assembly after its recess. The necessary steps will be taken to ensure the Bill is passed, she said.
Accompanying the Minister, were Administrator of the Women's Affairs Bureau, Hymawattie Lagan and representatives of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Department of Labour, the Task Force on Violence and Children and the Guyana Police Force.
The campaign will continue with a number of visits during this month to areas including Lethem, Linden, Anna Regina, Charity and St. Francis Mission.
Correction
IN our issue of Saturday August 7, 2004, we published a story with the headline, “Two Region Seven women recall being victims of human trafficking”. In our story, which was based on a report from GINA (Government Information Agency), we inadvertently implied that Ms Mary Jones once worked as a prostitute. Instead of the words, “…when she got there realized she was really employed to work as a prostitute”, we said, “…she was hired to work as a cook in one of the mining camps, but ended up working as a prostitute”.
The Chronicle regrets the mistake and would like to offer a sincere apology to Ms Jones for any embarrassment or inconvenience it may have caused her.