The Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Unit of the Barbados Police Service currently have two cases pending in the law courts, one of which involves a child.
And according to Station Sergeant Veronica Shepherd-Whitney who is in charge of the Unit, the search continues for other potential victims.
She shared that information with members of the media at Sheraton Mall on Friday, during an outreach programme ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which is marked annually on July 30.
“At this time I can’t give any details [about the cases] because they are before the court, but all in all during that process we have interviewed a number of victims as well because . . . we are always searching for victims. We have interviewed a number of persons who we see, or who we believe, could be a victim of human trafficking. In one of the cases, children are involved,” she said.
While unable to give additional information about those specific cases, Station Sergeant Shepherd-Whitney said the Unit has been working around the clock to tackle the issue of human trafficking in Barbados.
“At this time I wouldn’t say that it is not prevalent in Barbados or it is not present, because we have two cases pending. But we have to be mindful from a law enforcement perspective . . . .
“The victims are human beings and we must be mindful that human beings have a mind, they can change their minds, or they can work with you. I wouldn’t say to you that it is not prevalent, it is there, but we have to search for it and that is all part of the law enforcement process,” she said.
In the US Department of State’s 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report which was released earlier this month, Barbados was upgraded to Tier 2 from the Tier 2 Watch List, where it was placed in 2021.
Tier 2 countries are not fully compliant with the minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking in persons, but are making “significant efforts” to be compliant with the minimum standards. Those on the Tier 2 Watch List require special scrutiny during the following year of the assessment.
On Monday, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall said the upgrade represents significant work on the part of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons, and he pledged Government’s commitment to preventing human trafficking.
Station Sergeant Shepherd-Whitney explained that the Unit also works closely with the Immigration Department considering that human trafficking is also a border crime.
During Friday’s outreach programme at Sheraton Mall, members of the public got the opportunity to learn more about human trafficking. The Task Force, which also had a team at Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, distributed memorabilia, brochures in an effort to help people recognise the signs, so they are aware of the problem.
“We are continuing our awareness programme. We also have a National Action Plan which is running for two years, so the awareness programme is part of the National Action Plan,” the Station Sergeant explained.
Local actress Jennifer Walker, and her team, performed a skit about a young woman being a victim of sex trafficking. The skit highlighted how victims are treated by perpetrators who often hold on to their passports and other personal belongings, abuse them, and force them to engage in sexual activities until, hopefully, they are rescued by law enforcement agencies. (AH)
