Human trafficking is evolving at an "uncomfortable rate" in this country and as such, Government will move to put in laws in place to deal with this, National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy said yesterday.
He was speaking at the post-Cabinet press conference at the Coco Reef hotel in Tobago, where Government members are currently on a workshop.
Sandy said Cabinet agreed that policy framework, in relation to the passage of legislation of operational requirements of the United Nations protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking of persons, especially women and children, will be adopted.
"Statistical anecdotal data indicates that the offence of trafficking of persons is evolving in Trinidad and Tobago at an uncomfortable rate. The international organisation for migration of the United States Department of State reports that Trinidad and Tobago is a country of transit and it is a destination and we will be a country of origin," Sandy said.
He said there have also been numerous reports circulating throughout the global media concerning trafficking of nationals of Trinidad and Tobago.
"We in Trinidad and Tobago have recognised in recent times the disappearance in particular of young people and women, and as such we thought that we should do something in organising legislation to that effect," Sandy said.
He told the Express that there are over 500 persons who have gone missing in this country, although there was no information to suggest the majority of them were victims of human trafficking
"Human trafficking, which is one aspect of transnational organised crime, is a rapidly growing phenomenon across the globe. In the past 10 years trade in human cargo has been growing exponentially and is currently the second most profitable criminal activity worldwide, surpassed only by narcotic trafficking," Sandy said.
Sandy told the Express that brothels are illegal and in the legislation to come all of this will be included, as it is linked to trafficking of persons.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar also added that she met with US Ambassador Beatrice Wilkinson on Wednesday, and questioned why this country was ranked on tier two with respect to trafficking of persons when there was no statistical evidence of persons trafficked. She said she was told because of the absence of the legislation to deal with human trafficking, this country was given a bad rating.
Persad-Bissessar said the issue is also one of concern among Caricom leaders whose countries have also been ranked badly in terms of human trafficking. She said crime and ways in which the US can partner with the Government in alleviating crime and human trafficking was also discussed with Wilkinson.
