MP Newallo-Hosein: Human Trafficking – a blemish to the country’s image

The admission by the Minister of National Security Senator the Hon. Edmund Dillon that there is evidence of human trafficking has, without a doubt cast a dark, horrible and dismal shadow over this country.

His admission in Parliament on Friday that to date 22 persons have been charged for human trafficking resulting from 43 victims over the last four years, now places this country in a category where the Social, Religious, Political and Economic Institutions are being challenged and which must vehemently express its outrage at such a despicable act.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) “more than 20 million women, men and children around the world are currently the victims of human trafficking.

It is estimated that forced labour in the global private economy generates $150 billion in illegal profits every year.”
According to a Recent UN report, “Trafficking in organs is a crime that occurs in three broad categories.” Organs which are commonly traded are kidneys and the liver. In the first category of criminal organ trade, traffickers force or deceive victims into giving up an organ”. For example, body parts fetch high prices on the black market. A kidney is worth $262,000 in the U.S., $62,000 in China, $15,000 in India.

It is therefore imperative that the government move swiftly to protect all citizens regardless of age, gender, social standing or race, from being exploited whether domestically, regionally or internationally. Minister Dillon telling the Parliament that law enforcement is monitoring incidents of human trafficking is woefully inadequate. He must reassure citizens that community policing is real, operational and working alongside citizens to ensure their safety and security. He must give the national community tangible evidence that the coastlines around the country is immune to human trafficking. He must bring legislation to Parliament, of an internationally accepted standard, where persons who are found guilty of human trafficking, feel the full brunt of the law, where justice is swift but humane, where the victim’s sanity is restored.

Because the public has little or no confidence in the police service to protect the identity, privacy and confidentiality of persons who may want to volunteer information, Minister Dillon must meet with, as a matter of urgency, CBO’s, FBO’s, NGO’s, Business, Labour and other interest groups to conduct intensive dialogue and discussions, so that the menace of human trafficking can be dealt with in a comprehensive manner.

The Minister’s utterances and his body language in Parliament seems to be someone who is unsure, shaky and lacking credibility, signs which the public are weary off.

In countries where human trafficking is taken with utmost seriousness, entire departments are established with the requisite tools, human and otherwise. Detecting, apprehending and prosecuting human trafficking is a highly-specialized job, a highly-sophisticated branch of law enforcement, not just the regular police service. Only then would the public come forward.

This Government, since assuming office, have not displayed the level of seriousness needed to counter human trafficking, much less winning the public’s confidence. The country is already faced with a mammoth murder rate… the scourge of human trafficking must not rival this equally evil plague.

The country’s reputation is on trial. The government must act now to fix the problem.
If they cannot find the solution, then they are part of the problem.