Five Amerindian girls lured into prostitution
…police probe Guyana/Suriname link
Kaieteur News
July 26, 2004

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Local police are on the hunt for a man who lured five Amerindian girls to Suriname to engage them in prostitution.

The man had promised the girls employment at a restaurant in the Dutch-speaking Republic, which he claimed he owns.

The hunt for the man was launched after two of the girls objected to the plan and were sent back to Guyana.

The girls’ plight has once again highlighted the incidence in trafficking in persons in Guyana.

Kaieteur News understands that one of the girls, who worked at a restaurant on High Street, Georgetown, was approached by a man who claimed that he was interested in girls to work at his restaurant in Suriname.

The girl fell for the trap and was encouraged to get some of her friends to accompany her, which she did.

On Thursday, the girls left Georgetown for Corriverton, where they spent the night in a hotel.

The following day the man placed them in a boat in the company of a woman whose name was given as Brenda Griffith.

It was during the boat journey to Suriname that the girls learnt that they were heading for employment as prostitutes.

They began objecting and Griffith reportedly became annoyed.

When they reached the coast of Suriname, Griffith held unto their bags and told them that she had paid US$300 for them.

She claimed she was not releasing them until she was refunded her money by the man who brought them.

After several minutes of arguing, Griffith agreed to allow two of the girls, who were adamantly objecting to the scheme, to return to Guyana.

On their return, the two girls reported the matter to the police at Springlands, prompting an immediate investigation.

Kaieteur News understands that efforts were made to contact the man who had lured them into the scheme via telephone but no one answered.

Police say that every effort is being made to locate the man as they continue their probe into what appears to be the latest case of trafficking in persons.

Meanwhile, the fate of the other three girls remains unknown. Local police are in contact with their Surinamese counterparts for assistance.