Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security Bibi Shadick is urging the religious community to spread the word about the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) to their gatherings as the Ministry intensifies its campaign to fight the scourge.
Shadick met with the executive committee of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) yesterday to discuss TIP and ways in which CIOG could assist in the campaign against the phenomenon.
“If we all work together we would be able to get the message across. I am also asking that issues such as child abuse, age of consent, and corporal punishment be discussed at the jamaats,” she told the committee.
The Minister briefed the committee about the work the Ministry has been doing so far.
She described one case where reports were made about an underage child in a hinterland location who was involved in sexual relations with an adult.
She said when checks were made, the child denied the relationship and the parents, too, were adamant that no such thing was occurring.
The minister said her ministry’s aim is to make the people become more aware of TIP and educate them of the choices they have.
She issued a call for persons to report to the ministry activities pertaining to TIP.
The ministry would find alternatives for those affected by the illicit activities, she said.
Shadick said the reports of TIP activities received by the ministry are increasing.
She stated that the ministry has drafted a document titled “Protecting the exploited” which is a collaborative venture to combat social issues, which dehumanise and denigrate women and children.
The paper outlined areas which will be taken into account including the influx of Brazilian miners, migration of entire families to mining district, shops being used as cover for prostitution and the procurement of people for personal gains.
The Minister said that 50 persons are being trained, who will make up the core for a 300-strong network that will monitor TIP activities.
She said the network will require radio sets for the remote areas and donor agencies will be approached to provide the equipment.
Shadick said she and her team will be visiting the Essequibo Coast as part of the outreach to sensitise the people about TIP.
She stated that she has received word that TIP activities are ongoing in that area.
President of CIOG Fazeel Ferouz said a strategic plan is required to tackle the problem.
He pledged CIOG’s support to deal with the issues involving TIP as the illicit activities run contrary to the teachings of Islam.
Ferouz noted that Guyana has porous borders which make it easy for people to become involved in TIP.
He stated that there have been reports of Brazilians coming into Guyana and persons being taken to Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago to partake in TIP activities.
“We need to protect our people. This must be done in partnership with the government, religious and social organisations. All should be concerned,” he said.
The CIOG President said more should be done by the Ministry to deal with prostitution.
The media should also do more investigative reporting on the TIP activities in the outlying areas, he said.
CIOG’s education executive Shaikh Moeenul Hack pointed out that TIP is not confined to females since there are many cases of boys being exploited.
There are instances where boys are made to live and work under appalling conditions for poor wages, he said.
Hack said the problem of poverty will have to be looked at if TIP is to be properly addressed.
He said more economic opportunities must be placed in the rural areas because the people would be better off if they remain in their local environment.
Hack stated that CIOG, through the 130 masjids across the country, will be sensitising the people about TIP.
He said CIOG would require more information from any study conducted by the Ministry, such as the more vulnerable areas in the country.
Hack stated that there are places in Georgetown that are known to be partaking in TIP activities yet little effort is being made to address the situation.
This must be corrected, he said.
He commended the Ministry for its initiative, albeit a little late, to deal with TIP in Guyana and cautioned that the various agencies must coordinate their efforts.
Guyana has been listed in the Tier 3 category by the US State Department June report on TIP.
This means that it was found that Guyana was not doing much to address TIP.
The country was given 60 days to correct the situation.