Diplomat, sex industry boss differ on sex trafficking, violence plaguing sex workers

Barbados’ Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) David Comissiong has called for a collective regional approach to human trafficking, particularly for sexual exploitation in the wake of the discovery of a woman’s body at Beckwith Street, The City.

Police have identified the dead woman as a 44-year-old Jamaican Odith Antoinette Nicole Henriques, also known as ‘Jamaikey’, a reputed sex worker.

But a key player in the adult entertainment industry, Charles ‘Charlie Spice’ Lewis, dismissed sex trafficking as an issue, arguing instead that greater mainstream acceptance of the sex trade is key in providing a safer environment for sex workers.

Ambassador Comissiong confirmed that along with voluntary sex work, the issue of human trafficking has been “popping up with some regularity”. But he rubbished the notion that this country’s liberal approach to regional migration is exacerbating the issue.

“We have to ensure that we have the necessary security apparatus in place to deal with criminal activity such as human trafficking and that is part of our responsibility as a nation,” Comissiong told Barbados TODAY.

“We have to deal with it in terms of the enforcement side, we can’t deal with it by saying we are not going to honour the CARICOM principle objective of facilitating free movement. If we have a problem, we must deal with it because we want a properly functioning Barbados in every respect where everybody here is protected and taken care of whether they are Barbadians, CARICOM nationals or people from further afield.

“I can assure you as CARICOM Ambassador, once any CARICOM national who is in any degree of plight comes to my attention, I will try to deal with it as best I can,” he added.

Under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, CARICOM nationals are entitled to an automatic six-month stay in fellow member states, except where there is compelling evidence that regional visitors are a threat to national security and/or are likely to become a burden on the public purse.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Government has waived penalties for CARICOM visitors who may have overstayed in light of region-wide lockdowns and restrictions. According to Comissiong, this policy is consistent with the administration’s humanitarian approach to CARICOM nationals.

Barbados TODAY has been receiving reports of increasing violence, particularly against Jamaican women in the Bridgetown area due to vulnerabilities associated with the pandemic, although police said they have not received additional reports.

But Lewis, head of the Adult Industry Association (AIA), expressed doubt about the existence of a human trafficking problem, while acknowledging that fears among sex workers in the city have been increasing.

“We do not have a major problem with trafficking of sex workers in Barbados. Many sex workers here from other countries are here voluntarily,” Lewis told Barbados TODAY.

“However, because of the taboo nature of the industry and the little respect that they have from authorities and the populace at large, they are more likely to be victimized.”

He added that because of the country’s increasingly difficult economic situation, men have been accepting the services of prostitutes and refusing to pay, resulting in altercations that can lead to violence.

“There is a need for authorities to recognize that sex work is work and that these individuals need to have protection,” said Lewis. “They need to have recognition so that they will feel empowered to complain when there is an issue, because there are too many issues that go untold because they are afraid that nothing will be done about it.

“And if perpetrators knew that authorities were giving more recognition to sex workers and protection when needed, perhaps perpetrators would think twice or three times before they commit any atrocities against sex workers,” he added.

Ambassador Comissiong underscored the need for the appointment of consular and, at the very least, an honorary consul from each CARICOM member state in each territory in a bid to provide more protection and support to CARICOM nationals.

He said: “If every member state had that kind of structure in Barbados, for example, that would be a good foundation because between the national association and the honorary consul they would be able to engage with the relevant Barbadian authorities, even to engage with me as Ambassador to CARICOM or the CSME focal point who is located in the Prime Minister’s Office.”

kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb