Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Bibi Shadick last week cautioned a Mahdia proprietrix who rents her business place to prostitutes to desist from such activity since it could be an example of trafficking in persons (TIP).
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA) Minister Shadick said that it would be an example of TIP if the proprietrix was knowingly benefiting from the prostitution of others and exploiting them.
The minister made this observation during a three-day visit to Mahdia and other areas in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) last weekend in an effort to sensitise residents about the repercussions of TIP.
The US has threatened sanctions against Guyana in the coming weeks if efforts were not made to halt TIP which is said to be a problem in mining communities such as Mahdia.
Residents of Mahdia aired their concerns over the high rate of prostitution in the area. However, the minister ex-plained that though prostitution is illegal in Guyana, it couldn't be considered a form of TIP if persons are voluntarily prostituting themselves, and as long as others are not benefiting from the proceeds of the prostitution but the prostitute.
According to GINA, the proprietrix admitted to the minister to "knowingly renting her business to prostitutes and harbouring them on a daily basis". The minister told her to desist from doing so because if caught she would be prosecuted.
"Many residents in Mahdia had raised concerns about the matter and added that the proprietrix usually discontinues renting her property to prostitutes who could not earn enough money to pay her."
The minister and her team also visited Princeville, Micobie, Tumatumari and Campbelltown, where the minister explained her ministry's mandate, which is to eliminate, as much as possible, the incidents of TIP in all parts of the country.
At Mahdia the community raised concerns about the lack of activities for youths in the area and the minister promised to look at the issue seriously noting that the secondary school in the area did not have a CXC programme.
According to the release the residents were also urged by Shadick to report incidents of child abuse, TIP and other forms of exploitation of persons so that her ministry could assist the victims and see that guilty individuals are prosecuted.
The age of consent, birth certificates and corporal punishment were also discussed during the visit.