US embassy cable - 05GEORGETOWN1195

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 001195 
 
SIPDIS 
 
G/TIP 
WHA/CAR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, SMIG, SOCI, PGOV, KCRM, KWMN, GY 
SUBJECT:  INTERIM REPORT: GUYANA IMPROVES VICTIM ASSISTANCE, 
PROSECUTES TRAFFICKERS 
 
REF: STATE 185386 
 
1.  Summary.  A series of nation-wide educational seminars, 
new legislation to raise Guyana's age of consent, new 
resources for trafficking shelters, new partnerships to 
research trafficking in persons (TIP), and charges filed 
against human traffickers highlight Guyana's recent efforts 
to combat human trafficking.  These steps demonstrate the 
government's continued and sustained commitment to 
preventing trafficking in persons, protecting its victims, 
and prosecuting its perpetrators.  End Summary. 
 
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Prevention through Education, Legislation 
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2.  Through a series of monthly educational seminars, the 
Government of Guyana continues to demonstrate its commitment 
to preventing human trafficking.  More than 200 people, 
including members of the Guyana Police Force, attended these 
seminars held throughout the country since the release of 
the 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report.  The seminars 
focused on educating community members about nature of human 
trafficking and teaching attendees how to report human 
trafficking activities to the appropriate authorities. 
 
3.  On October 27, Guyana's National Assembly raised the age 
of consent to 16 from 13.  During the discussion in 
Parliament, Parliamentarians from both sides of the 
political aisle called for strengthened legislation against 
sex crimes.  In raising the age of consent, the Government 
demonstrated its commitment to protecting children, 
including minors involved in prostitution, from sexual 
predators. 
 
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Partnership to Protect Victims 
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4.  The Government of Guyana (GOG) partnered with the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United 
States Agency for International Development (USAID), and 
Help and Shelter, a local Non-Government Organization to 
offer protection to trafficking victims.  When it formed its 
anti-trafficking unit, the GOG identified Help and Shelter, 
a shelter for victims of domestic violence, as the 
appropriate facility to provide care for trafficking 
victims.  However, the shelter was struggling to pay basic 
bills.  To build the shelter's capacity, the GOG provided 
G$5 million (US$25,000) to recondition and renovate Help and 
Shelter's physical facility.  In addition, USAID provided an 
additional US$25 thousand to cover the shelter's operating 
expenses for 18 months. 
 
5.  The GOG partnered with Red Thread, another local NGO, to 
contribute to an IOM report on human trafficking in the 
Caribbean.  The revealing report documented some of the 
causes of human trafficking in Guyana and provided valuable 
testimonials from actual trafficking victims.  The final 
document will serve as a valuable tool to the GOG and 
concerned NGOs as they continue to work together to develop 
strategies to combat trafficking in persons and protect its 
victims. 
 
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Prosecution: Government Puts Human Trafficking Law to Work 
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6.  On October 18, prosecutors filed human trafficking 
charges against a woman in Port Kaituma, a community near 
the Venezuelan border.  The charges allege that the woman 
lured two 15 year old girls into a mining area with promises 
of employment.  However, upon arriving, the woman told the 
girls that they would work as prostitutes.  The girls 
complained of fraud to local community members who reported 
the matter to police.  The incident may demonstrate the 
success of the nation-wide educational campaign sponsored by 
the government.  Guyana's human trafficking coordinator, 
Minister Bibi Shaddick, held an informational seminar in 
Port Kaituma with members of G/TIP in 2004. 
 
7.  During the second week of October, the Guyana Police 
Force arrested three people for abducting and trafficking 
two teenaged girls from the Essequibo (east of Georgetown) 
to Berbice, an area along Guyana's border with Suriname. 
Prosecutors expect the accused to face charges in court 
before the end of 2005.  The arrests and subsequent charges 
further demonstrate the Government's continued and sustained 
commitment to combating human trafficking. 
 
BULLEN