Natural Resources Corps of Warden benefit from TIP training
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, July 19, 2018
The Corps of Warden attached to the Ministry of Natural Resources yesterday begun a training exercise on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), conducted by the Ministerial Task Force of the Ministry of Public Security at the Guyana Police Officers Training Center.
The two-day training session aims at enhancing the capacity and professionalism of the wardens.
The training focuses on equipping the wardens with information regarding the nature of the crime of trafficking in persons; functions of the task force; services available locally; how to identify and assist victims and best practices in detecting trafficking in persons; creating a network of exchange of information among frontline officers and other stakeholders in different regions in Guyana and ways to make the task force more efficient.
Director of Compliance at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Derrick Lawrence, speaking on behalf of Minister Raphael Trotman, told those gathered that this training is important in assisting the wardens to execute their responsibility of the natural resources of Guyana, especially its human resources.
“As you patrol the natural resources sector, whether you are in the mining district, forestry or you are addressing issues pertaining to wildlife, you need to keep your eyes and ears open because there is no other resource that is more vital to a nation than its human resource.”
According to Lawrence, it will take more than one agency to eradicate the trafficking in persons.
“This is so important to the national interest. In fact, it is so important for all humanity that this human scourge, this thing that is so wrong and still so pervasive in order of it to come to an end, no one ministry, no one agency can bring the end of this thing. We must all stay committed to doing just that.”
The corps of wardens was added to the Ministry of Natural Resources as a law enforcement unit to ensure the various agencies within the sector comply with the rules and regulations of the mining sector.
The Ministerial Taskforce in Trafficking in Persons has been conducting a series of TIP training exercises for the past 18 months for stakeholders. Among those who have benefited from similar training sessions is the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
By: Kimberley Ferreira.
Image: Tejpaul Bridgemohan.