U.S. Gives Caribbean Failing Grade in Fight Against Human Trafficking

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The United States said several Caribbean countries were not in compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons (TIP).

Of the Caribbean countries listed in the “2019 Trafficking in Persons Report”, only The Bahamas and Guyana “fully” met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Washington said the authorities in Nassau and Georgetown continued to demonstrate “serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period” and as a result, the two Caribbean community (CARICOM) countries remained on Tier 1.

It said the efforts by The Bahamas included passing a national action plan, increasing funding for victim assistance and anti-trafficking prevention, elevating national anti-trafficking planning to the office of the prime minister, and instituting an anti-trafficking course into the training curriculum of the Immigration Department.

‘SERIOUS EFFORTS’

In the case of Guyana, the U.S. State Department, which released the report noted, that Guyana “demonstrated serious and sustained efforts by increasing funding for victim assistance, identifying and assisting more victims for the third consecutive year, and opening and operating a trafficking shelter outside of the capital area.”

But the report noted that the Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Haiti, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago had been placed on Tier 2.

In the case of Antigua and Barbuda, Washington said that the island does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.