Mines officers receive more training in TIP
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Mines officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) participated in another round of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) training.
The two-day training is being facilitated by the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons in collaboration with the GGMC at the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Training Centre, Camp Street.
The training, which involves practical and interactive exercises, provides information to Mines Officers on how to identify and refer victims of TIP. The training also addresses the application of the 2005 Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act.
Coordinator of the Task Force, Oliver Profitt, at the opening, noted the training was necessary given the prevalence of TIP in mining districts coupled with an influx of foreign nationals, especially Venezuelans. Mines Officers are considered front-line defenders in the fight against trafficking.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is a member of the multi-agency task force which was established following the passage of the TIP Act. The task force has engaged in an 18-month training session.
Training was also provided to media operatives, police prosecutors and regional investigators. Last year, Guyana had been elevated to a tier one country by the United States Department of State’s 2017 Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.
The Ministerial Task Force has been working tirelessly to ensure anti-TIP initiatives are carried out through its 2017-2018 TIP Action Plan.
By: Tiffny Rhodius.
Images: Jameel Mohamed.