THE goal of securing a better livelihood for vulnerable citizens in any country tells of not only a caring government, but of one that seeks to use national wealth for the betterment of all its citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender.

These qualities have been made manifest in Guyana over the past many years and thousands of citizens can bear testimony to significant strides made by the PPP/C Government, to change the socio-economic landscape, to provide a better life for vulnerable sections of the society, particularly children and single parents.
For single parents, several programmes have been implemented, such as skills training and subsidies for day care expenses as support mechanism to alleviate the burdens of single parents who have to take care of their children.
Recipients receive monthly assistance towards the cost of day care expenses, while they work.
In 2010, a visionary plan under the stewardship of Minister Priya Manickchand became a reality, with the launching of the revolutionary single parents micro credit scheme, Women of Worth (WOW), that facilitates single parents accessing micro loans, without collateral, for business endeavours.
By the middle of November, the WOW department at the Ministry of Human Services had issued about 1,158 loans, valued in excess of $224M, to single parents.
The scheme, a collaborative initiative between the Ministry and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), provides single women access to loans, ranging from $100,000 to $250,000, to establish and expand small businesses, with maximum of 24 months repayment.

GBTI has committed a total sum of $500M to the WOW loan plan so there is room for more eligible women to benefit.

The WOW programme has reached Linden (Region 10), Hampshire, (Region 6), Anna Regina, (Region 2), Buxton (Region 4), Fort Wellington (Region 5), Mahdia (Region 8) and recently, Lethem (Region 9). The initiative was launched in the latter region on November 6, with residents showing high interest.
Patrica Chandro, a single parent mother residing in La Penitence, Georgetown, accessed a loan for $250,000 in November, 2010, to assist with the establishment of the Precious Jewel Play Group.
The funds were expended towards the purchase of learning materials, stationery and furniture. The play school has an existing complement of 16 children, and is the only such group in the immediate location, thus giving her a competitive advantage.

Another mother, Ayesha Lamasion, who has one child, benefited from a loan of $100,000 in August, 2010, to purchase stocks for her salon business at 2 Middleton Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, named ‘Salon Sensational’.
The loan was used to purchase a nail buffing machine, an airbrush package, a wax pot and related supplies.
A 53-year old grandmother, Brenda Beckles, obtained a loan of $200,000, in October, 2010, to start a poultry business and purchase additional stock for her snackette.
To date, loan repayments have always been on schedule, and she has been able to expand her stock and offer a larger variety of beverages to customers.
Her increased stock of ice-cream and icicles are particularly preferred by children, and she has advised that the loan has been very beneficial to her as her customer base has grown and there is a better return.

Source: (GINA) https://guyanachronicle.com/2011/11/25/wow-facilitating-a-brighter-future-for-single-parents

-says region should imitate this

EXECUTIVE Secretary for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Barcena, has described the Government of Guyana’s Women of Worth (WOW) programme as a laudable model and said the region as a whole should follow suit. The ECLAC official, who was in Trinidad and Tobago for the Caribbean Development Round Table on Tuesday, organized by ECLAC in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance of Trinidad and Tobago, made the comment subsequent to the Round Table.
Barcena also met with President Bharrat Jagdeo who was in Trinidad and Tobago for the Third China Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum.
She stated that the initiative which enables single parent women with opportunities to develop themselves economically is a form of “Inclusive Financing” by government.
The WOW programme, which has cost government over $154M, has a loan span from $100,000 to $250,000, at a minimal interest rate of 6 percent and a maximum repayment period of 24 months.
The initiative, which saw over 1,000 single mothers already benefiting, is being initiated by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security through a collaborative effort with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry.
It was launched in June, 2010, and caters for applicants between the ages of 18 and 60 years, with an earning of up to $40,000 per month.

Source: https://guyanachronicle.com/2011/09/15/eclac-official-calls-guyanas-wow-programme-a-model

– rules Committee ‘sloth’ blamed

More than a year after construction of the family court was completed, government continues to express its disappointment with the pace at which the Rules Committee, headed by acting Chancellor Carl Singh, is working to have the court operational.

Speaking to the media on August 25, Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand said she was very disappointed with the delay, declaring the government has done its part in making the facility a reality.

According to her, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government had constructed the building, as promised in its 2006 manifesto.

“Whatever could have been done by the executive arm to have brought this court into being has been done,” she insisted.

“If you look at the promises made by the PPP/C that were to be fulfilled by this ministry, you would see that every single other thing has been done except that. And so, of course, I’m personally disappointed that the failure of the Rules Committee to have these rules being made into law and adopted has really stalled my own progress.” Manickchand, a lawyer by training, said her understanding is that the non-approval of rules for the court is responsible for the delay. “Rules for the family court can only be laid by the Rules Committee; it’s a matter of law. The Rules Committee performs their functions. Under law, they are separate and apart from government. In fact, they fall under the judicial arm of government,” she explained.

The minister informed reporters that the rules in question were forwarded to the committee since November 2010. “Having indicated to us that they (Rules Committee) have no capacity to get those rules done, the government hired someone that they recommended and approved of to draft the rules. We submitted those rules to the chancellor, who is the head of the Rules Committee, and the rules are still not made into law,” Manickchand lamented.

Impatient

The minister suggested that a better answer on the status of the family court would come from either the chancellor or the Rules Committee.

Several months ago, Presidential Secretariat Head Dr Roger Luncheon said government was “impatient”, while explaining that “the Rules Committee adoption is necessary for the definitive parliamentary intervention that was needed for the court to be established”. When questioned about a likely opening date, Dr Luncheon responded: “Our frustration at Cabinet is precisely because we cannot answer that question.” He did suggest that there were other measures that the executive could pursue, but suggested that the executive preferred to let convention take precedence.

After clearance by the Rules Committee, the rules have to be returned to Parliament for adoption.

Once this is done, they would be enshrined in the High Court Rules, and the family court’s operation would be initiated.

It has been more than a year since contractors handed over the court to the Human Services and Social Security Ministry.

The court was established to address problems arising from the dysfunction of the family unit, and to give special attention to child rights issues. It will handle issues such as divorce, division of property, domestic matters, adoption, guardianship, and custody.

Source: https://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/?p=9808

…hosted by Human Services Ministry, Margaret Clemons Foundation

THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, in partnership with the Margaret Clemons Foundation (MCF), on August 11 last, hosted a photography workshop for 15 children, ages 11 to 17, and two artists, under the project theme name ‘WITNESS’. Attending the workshop at the Cara Lodge, also, was country coordinator from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Help and Shelter, Varqa Foundation and the Greater Georgetown community.  Also in attendance as observers were Karla Daniels, Vice Consul U.S. Embassy; Dhanmattie Sohai, USAID; Margaret Kertzious, Director, Help and Shelter; and Shirley Ferguson, Childcare and Protection Agency. MCF’s programming includes a train the trainer component.

The programme’s primary objective is to draw attention to and spark conversation about the effects of adult human behaviour, particularly gender-based, and child directed violence on society’s most vulnerable and impressionable witnesses, our children.  The project is part of the global photography project by the French artist JR, called “Inside Out”. MCF provided each of the 18 participants with point and shoot cameras, memory cards, journals and photography books.

The workshop included basic photography instruction by Alysia Christiani, the New York based Guyanese American and Studio Manager at Sesame Workshop. Christiani volunteered her time to travel to Guyana, on behalf of MCF, to deliver the workshop, and is the WITNESS Project Manager.
The children were separated into groups of three and presented with various logistical and mechanical obstacles to overcome. With only two weeks to take a number of very specific photographs, obtain signed releases from the model’s parent or guardian, and deliver the photographs to the Guyana based coordinator for delivery to MCF in New York, each group had to develop an efficient system which was presented to the larger group for discussion. Additionally, all participants were required to answer a questionnaire about the programme, and to make suggestions on what can be improved upon.

The two participating artists chronicled the workshop by photographing the participants as they worked through the process. They will continue to record the programme as it unfolds over the next two weeks, and again at the final roll out in late October, when representatives of MCF return to Guyana to post the children’s photographs, which would have been converted into huge-sized posters, in heavily trafficked areas of Georgetown.
After the posters are placed in and around Georgetown, they will be added to JR’s Inside Out site and viewed by people from across the globe. The children, artists and country coordinator are required to participate in this final aspect of the programme.  MCF’s commitment to the participants includes providing transportation to anyone who may have moved out of town at the time of the roll out.

In addressing the WITNESS Project participants, Minister Manickchand expressed the importance of utilizing all available resources, including arts-based programming to change violence directed against women and children.  She said that by participating in programmes such as Project WITNESS, young people could finally begin to speak out loudly against the violence that has infected the world.

Source: https://guyanachronicle.com/2011/08/25/15-children-in-witness-project-photography-workshop

Victims of domestic violence in Wakenaam are now able to find temporary refuge at the second “White Zone” to be set up in the country, this time at the Wakenaam Cottage Hospital Wednesday last.
This initiative was implemented by the Minister of Human Services and the first “White Zone” was set up at the Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre, Number 68 Village, Corentyne, Berbice last year.
At  both facilities, women fleeing from abusive partners will be provided with temporary lodging and meals, among other forms of assistance. It also promises to be child friendly for those persons leaving home with their children; it also has beds, kitchen utensils amongst other relevant item.

The strategy was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Wakenaam Night Committee that cleared the path for the launching of the historic White Zone on the island.
The ‘White Zone’ was launched minutes after scores of men signed the ‘Skeldon Declaration’ in Wakenaam. In it they vowed not to abuse their women verbally, physically and sexually.
Administrator of the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB), Ms. Hymawattie Lagan, announced that the hospice will offer 24 hours-a-day service and is not intended for long term shelter.

Minister of Human Services, Priya Manickchand, said that many persons mistake domestic violence as the only form of physical abuse. However, it is much more than that. “It could be someone call you a bitch, whore, ugly, useless, stupid, dunce, good for nothing or an antiman….I am being very frank because these are some of the things people don’t recognize as abuse.”

Advising young ladies at the event on Domestic Violence, Manickchand said that if anyone makes them feel less than worthy by what they say, and that person is a male companion or a boyfriend that can also be domestic abuse also; and controlling behaviour is another factor of domestic abuse which can escalate to violence.
Noting that in a marriage there is need for implicit permission or consent before sexual intercourse, Manickchand said that a woman is allowed to say no to intercourse even in a marriage or if the person is in a committed relationship.

“If you say no and your partner forces you then that amounts to rape, abuse, and domestic violence.”
She said that when a man withholds finance from the woman willfully and she has to even ask for money to buy her underwear that is also a form of abuse.
According to Minister Manickchand, the government has a duty to provide an environment where issues of domestic violence can be discussed with a view to it being resolved, the government has a duty to pass the right laws and educate the police force, nurses and doctors. The government also has a duty to put systems in place to implement policies and programmes to deal with domestic violence.

“Domestic violence is not only someone beating you; it is much more than that, it can be someone constantly calling you all sorts of names,” Minister Manickchand said.
Adding that individuals in their homes must put a stop to abuse, Manickchand said that the government cannot visit anyone’s home and force them to make a decision.

“No woman is responsible for being abused…If you know you are being abused you owe it to your children and yourself to get out of that home…Many women could end up being those persons who are placed on the front pages of the newspapers dead.”

Underscoring that abusive individuals and sexual predators do not change overnight; Manickchand said these types of persons don’t change because they got caught or simply because they plead guilty. These persons need counseling or different types of intervention throughout their lives in order to change from such behaviour.

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2011/07/23/%E2%80%9Cwhite-zone%E2%80%9D-implemented-at-wakenaam-hospice-for-victims/

… on the US 2011 TIP report

WE find objectionable the entire tone of the report but we wish to highlight a few of the untruths declared about Guyana by our friend the United States in the 2011 report.
By its recommendations and specific statements, the report suggests or states 
1.  That because of our now proven justified protest about last year’s report, we encourage trafficking in Guyana.
2. That an open atmosphere of discussion about the problem of trafficking does not exist in Guyana.
3. That NGOs and officials feel unable to discuss human trafficking because of public statements made by the GOG about the small scale of the problem.
4. That we do not offer support to NGOs to identify and actively help women, men and children subjected to trafficking.
5. That we punish victims of trafficking rather than help them.
6. That we are aware of complicity by officials in the area of trafficking and have done nothing about it.
7. That we have not done enough to raise awareness on the issue of trafficking.

RE # 1: That because of our now proven justified protest about last year’s report that we encourage trafficking in Guyana.
The Government of Guyana has a duty to defend the integrity of the people and State of Guyana. We make no apologies for exposing the last US report for what it was…that is, dishonest, unfair and a misrepresentation of the reality that exists in Guyana. We shall not be bullied into staying quiet by this now suggestion that our public statements regarding the state of Trafficking in our country could result in harm to our people and victims. Instead, we wish to say to the US that if you are so concerned about what messages our protests about your inaccurate reports might send, then you have a greater duty to ensure accuracy and honesty in your reporting, not only about us, but about every country you seek to monitor or judge.

Re# 2: That an open atmosphere of discussion about the problem of trafficking does not exist in Guyana.
Hundreds of public meetings are conducted all over Guyana, and particularly in the regions that might be most vulnerable to trafficking. Great effort is made to ensure all community members and officials, including police, teachers, social workers, NGOs, health workers, regional officials, trafficking focal point persons,  etc, etc, attend.
Prior to hosting any such meeting, we spend a considerable amount of time mobilising said persons so that we can make maximum use of the resources, including time and money, that would be expended to conduct the meetings.
We reiterate our invitation to the representatives of the United States who are with us in Guyana to accompany us on any and all of these journeys to meet and inform and educate persons about the issues of trafficking, as well as to learn ourselves of any instances/vulnerabilities that may be existing in communities.
If this invitation is taken up, the US GTIP shall learn these discussions are as open as open can get.

RE# 3: That NGOs and officials feel unable to discuss human trafficking because of public statements made by the GOG.
Guyanese would know that government makes statements and NGOs in Guyana have never been shy to refute said statements and/or to wholly contradict them. To suggest that the US GTIP is not hearing from NGOs on this matter because said NGOs feel constrained by government’s public rejection of the United States report is to make a careless, destructive and unsupported assumption.
However, what is amazing in this particular matter is  the suggestion that NGOs did not speak up is entirely dishonest. Two NGOs spoke on this issue. Both are on record as having been heavily critical of Government on other occasions in other matters. And both spoke. They are the Help and Shelter and the Guyana Human Rights Association. They spoke, but they didn’t say what the US GTIP wanted to hear. What they said would not have supported what the US has been saying about us all these years. Not a word was mentioned about these two correspondences in this year’s report. Do you believe if these NGOs had said that there is trafficking and given instances that these instances would have been left out of the report?
In the case of Help and Shelter, in a public letter to the newpapers, published in the Kaieteur News on the 29th June 2011, quoting the 2010 TIP report which based its conclusion that we  were not doing enough as a country because, inter alia, we did not have appropriate shelter, H&S said:

“ The main shelter [incorrect location] focuses on domestic violence and reported it did not assist any trafficking victims; it is unclear whether this is an appropriate service provider for trafficking victims….
These statements apparently form the basis of the report’s finding that Guyana has failed to ensure that trafficking-specific shelter and care is offered to victims of trafficking, yet the first leaves room for misconception and the second is simply an unverified expression of doubt”.

And after detailing certain facts H&S continued with the following :
“We are concerned not only that the impression may have been created that we do not provide assistance to trafficking victims, but also that the our appropriateness as a provider of services for trafficking victims has been called into question simply – it would appear – due to lack of requirement for them.
“Our provision of shelter services to victims of domestic violence, while standing ready to assist victims of trafficking, prevents a waste of material and human resources in a country that cannot afford either.
We invite representatives of the US Embassy to visit our shelter to see for themselves that – to quote from the Action Guide – “potential victims are [sic] provided [with] appropriate shelter and care…”

Additionally, the GHRA, in a letter dated 18th August 2010 to the political affairs officer of the US Embassy here in Georgetown, and copied to the Hon Minister of Human Services and Social Security, said :
“As with human rights concerns in general, we believe the issue of Human Trafficking be addressed in accordance with international procedures with respect to facts, policy and principle. The GHRA’s assessment of TIP reports produced in recent years by the US state Department falls short of internationally acceptable standards.
“On the questions of fact, it is our view that the evidence of trafficking provided in the US trafficking Reports…is inadequate….the evidence is more speculative than factual….
“.On issues of policy, it is appropriate to place emphasis on national arrangements to prevent, protect and redress cases of trafficking. …. The case for concluding that the response of the Government of Guyana in terms of such arrangements is inadequate has not been justified. The GHRA is of the view that this situation has arisen because well established principles governing international fact-finding have been overlooked [by the US]…”
The GHRA then went on to quote relevant sections from the UN declaration on Fact Finding as a guide to how the US may fairly acquire facts on Guyana.

In his response on behalf of the United States, dated August 19th 2010, the Political Affairs Officer said, inter alia, that “the [convention] applies to UN fact finding missions and does not apply to reports compiled by [the US]….”
So it is not that the US GTIP  is not hearing from NGOs because those NGOs are afraid of Government. The USGTIP is not hearing what it wants to hear from NGOs because Guyanese who live and work here are not of the view that we have trafficking on the scale that the US is claiming. Surely the Government, individuals and NGOs all can’t be wrong and only the USGTIP right.

How “truthful” is this report when it fails to tell its readers that the US was written to and about by these two NGOs. There is great effort to detail even single instances of trafficking, so any excuse that the US treated the complaints and objections by these two NGO as general would have to be rejected out of hand.
Re#4: That we do not offer support to NGOs to identify and actively help women, men and children subjected to trafficking.

The Government gives to the Shelter all the money the shelter says it needs to manage and operate said shelter and that amounts to $10,000,000.
In kind, support has been given to many other NGOs. This support includes training and facilitation of training and sharing of experiences and resources. Guyana is a developing country with the constraints on its budget that developing countries face. NGOs are funded by agencies other than the government, hence their name “non- Governmental….” It is true that not many NGOs work in the area of trafficking. Why is this? Could it be because the scale of the problem has been determined by these NGOs not to be big enough to warrant their help? Could it be because the said NGOs have determined that their efforts could be directed at other bigger social problems that Guyana faces?
Could we all be wrong on this issue and only the USGTIP right?

Re #5: That we punish victims of trafficking rather than help them.
This is simply untrue.  We challenge the US to provide evidence of this.
The one case that was mentioned regarding the girl that was charged for wandering happened in these unfortunate circumstances. The young lady was rescued by our TIP department. She was placed at the Shelter and ran away. After much heartbreaking searches and great worry, we found her again. She was placed in the care of her grandmother, with full financial and other support from us. She ran away again and spent time on the road, committing other offences. She was then kept at the Police Station again, with visits from us and full support. The law enforcement felt the only way this child could have been kept safe away from predators was by having her in a facility where she could be watched and monitored. She was sent to the New Opportunity Corps. It is to be noted that she was not sent to NOC because of any trafficking related instances. Is this the best thing for this child? I would be the first to tell you no. If I had known personally of this victim, I assure you this would not have been the route that we would have taken to protect her. But, is it fair for a picture to be painted that we do this with the majority of our limited number of victims? If you look at the US report on itself ,where it gave itself a gold star and tier 1 ranking, you will see that even in the US there are victims who are unwilling to co-operate with law enforcement officials (and experts would tell you this is for a variety of very complex reasons). I quote directly from page 3 of the US report about the US
“…NGOs reported isolated incidents of officers citing victims risking withdrawal of  benefits when faced with reluctant victims; NGOs also reported continued challenges in getting law enforcement to recognize reluctant victims for protection purposes…”
Can we conclude that the US treats all of its victims this way? That would be as silly as their unfounded conclusion about the way we treat victims their said conclusion being based on one incident.

Re #6: That we are aware of complicity by officials in the area of trafficking and have done nothing about it.
This is absolutely unverified. I know of no complicity by officials of the government. I wish to assure the United States that almost immediately, after we react to their routine and routinely unfair reports about us, we forget GTIP even exist. Officials could tell you that my and our protests to the US government and about said reports are never repeated in local routine meetings on trafficking.  When we meet with officials to plan the way forward, and when we lay down policies and programmes, we do so with firmness which sends a clear message that any one sleeping on the job of addressing trafficking and any complicity would be dealt with condignly.

Official complicity would not be tolerated by the Government of Guyana on any issue of crime.
However, I wish to reiterate what we said officially to the US Government at our February Govt to Govt meeting. And that is if you know of something like this where officials are complicit in trafficking, then we want to be told, so that we can address same. Saying it in a report is hardly helpful and can hardly advance the cause for eradicating trafficking without providing whatever evidence you have which shall be treated confidentially. This report this year contradicts all the previous reports which specifically say there is no official complicity in trafficking. It is the same officers working in the area. So how come all of a sudden they have become complicit. However, I repeat with sincerity, we want to know about it.

Re#7: That we have not done enough to raise awareness on the issue of trafficking.
This suggestion is so ridiculous it is almost not worth addressing. Guyana has spent more money and other resources on awareness of the issue of trafficking that it is disproportionate to the scale of the problem we have here.
I close by saying that I truly believe it is necessary to keep worldwide attention on the issue of trafficking. The consequences for victims and for us as a human race would be overbearingly severe if we fail to address this issue frontally with all of our resources. Although many have objected at the arrogance of the United States appointing itself chief judge, sole jury and mass executioner, I am honestly of the view that this annual reporting should be done and could be very helpful in our worldwide fight against trafficking. If the US insists on doing it alone, then the best service they can give to victims of trafficking and potential victims of trafficking is to be fair and objective in their reporting.

If these reports continue to be so grossly inaccurate, not only will friendships be hurt, but as a world, we run the risk of refuting every year inaccuracies and unjustness rather than holding hands, combining resources and moving forward forcefully as one body against traffickers. When the US speaks and countries reject, the traffickers may well be emboldened. Victims may well feel hopeless, two consequences, I am sure, that the US Congress never intended when the TVPA was conceived and passed.

I wish to clearly say that while we will continue to reject false reports about Guyana, we are committed to ensuring this horror is removed from our midst. We have work to do in and around  this very complex issue of trafficking. We shall continue to strengthen our social safety nets and our other social services so as to reduce vulnerabilities amongst our people. Guyana reinforces its resolve to continue the battle against those criminals who insist on exploiting and abusing the weaknesses of others. To all traffickers and would be traffickers, we say watch out. We will catch you and we shall deal with you condignly. To all victims, we say there is help. Please do not hesitate to access that help. Our 24 hour hotline number is 227-4083.

Source: https://guyanachronicle.com/2011/06/30/statement-by-minister-priya-manickchand

-replete with untruths

MEMBERS of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), comprising Ministers Clement Rohee, Priya Manickchand, and Pauline Sukhai, yesterday responded to the recently published 2011 United States (US) State Department report on TIP at a press conference at the Home Affairs Ministry’s boardroom, Brickdam.
Minister Manickchand said that while this year’s report has seen Guyana ascending the ladder of the tier ranking system, moving from a tier 2 watch list to a tier 2, making a fairer ranking, it is still replete with misrepresentations of the country’s reality.

“We have argued for a number of years now that the reports about us do not reflect the reality on the ground in Guyana…last year we called for a withdrawal of Guyana from the tier 2 watch list and an apology from the US Government, neither of which was forthcoming,” the Human Services Minister said.
She pointed out that last year, a lot of work was done to eliminate trafficking by dealing with those found to be traffickers and by protecting and caring for victims and potential victims, yet the country was placed on a tier 2 watch list.

“This year, we have done nothing differently as far as we know, but we are ranked as a tier 2 country, which may be a quiet correction of last year’s mistake which we maintain, was unfair and unjustified,” the minister said.
Government remains unsure as to how the US ranks countries on the tier system and maintains that there seems to be little effort to determine a country’s true status and more of a rush to righteously issue these annual reports.
While the report highlighted that, “the United States is a source, transit, and destination country for many men, women and children subjected to forced labour, debt bondage, document servitude, and sex trafficking”, it also highlighted what is being done by the U.S. Government and the challenges that they are facing with regard to trafficking, an aspect that is not included for other countries.
With regard to the U.S. ranking itself as a tier 1 country, Minister Manickchand said, “we would see America being ranked as a tier 2 country if the ranking was consistent to the way in which a small, developing country like Guyana was ranked.”

She questioned how credible and consistent is the ranking system. “How much does this system carry out the intentions of the congress that passed the Trafficking and Victims Protection Act? How wisely is the dollar of the US citizen being spent, when this report seems to be a self-righteous routine and political gimmick rather than a genuine effort to combat TIP?”
Minister Manickchand quoted Democratic Senator, Jim Webb who, on April 7, 2011, criticised the US anti-trafficking approach and urged reforms of the annual report, which he said lacked “clear metrics and caused confusion and resentment…”

She also quoted the Host of America’s Most Wanted, John Walsh, who, with regard to TIP in the U.S., said, “it (trafficking) is the underbelly of the rich, rich country we live in that touts personal freedoms all over the world. We are the freest country in the world…but we are also a great country in denial.”

Minister Manickchand clarified a few misrepresentations in  this year’s report, one of which stated as a result of Guyana’s now proven, justified protest about the 2010 report, might encourage trafficking.
She said that government has a duty to defend the integrity of the people and State of Guyana, and added, “we make no apologies for exposing the last U.S. report for what it was, dishonest, unfair and a misrepresentation of Guyana’s reality…If the U.S. is so concerned about what message our protest about its inaccurate reports might send, then you have a greater duty to ensure accuracy and honesty in your reporting.”

Another misrepresentation is that Guyana lacks an open atmosphere of discussion about trafficking. The report fails to mention the hundreds of public meetings that are continuously being conducted all over the country, particularly in the regions that might be most vulnerable to trafficking.

“Great effort is made to ensure full participation of all community members and officials including police, teachers, social workers, NGOs, health workers, regional officials, and trafficking focal point persons,” Minister Manickchand said.

With regard to the allegation that NGOs and officials feel unable to discuss human trafficking because of public statements made by government officials, she said that Help and Shelter and the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) are on record as having been heavily critical of Government on various matters.
“They spoke but they didn’t say what the U.S. wanted to hear, as it would not have supported what they have been saying about us all these years,” she asserted.

With regard to claims that NGOs are not supported to help trafficking victims, Minister Manickchand clarified that government gave $10M to Help and Shelter to manage its operations, while in-kind support has been given to many other NGOs.

Another unsubstantiated claim was that Guyana punishes victims instead of helping them, a statement that the minister said is simply untrue, and she challenged the U.S. to provide evidence to support this.
With regard to allegations that Guyana is aware of complicity by officials in the area of trafficking and has turned a blind eye, the minister said that this is absolutely unverified and assured that anyone sleeping on the job of addressing trafficking and any complicity would be dealt with condignly.
“This year’s report contradicts all the previous reports which specifically said that there is no complicity in trafficking,” she said.

With regard to statements that enough is not being done to raise awareness on the issue of trafficking, the minister said Guyana has an amount of money and other resources on awareness of the issue of trafficking that is disproportionate to the scale of the problem in the country.
She said, “If the reports continue to be so grossly inaccurate, not only will the friendship be hurt, but as a world, we run the risk of refuting every year, inaccuracies and unjustness rather than holding hands, combining resources and moving forward forcefully as one body against traffickers.”

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai added that thus far for 2011, 44 sessions have been held in potential high-risk communities and her ministry continues to work closely with the Human Services Ministry and other agencies to spread awareness.

Minister Manickchand added that it is indeed disappointing when persons who claim to be patriotic Guyanese citizens choose to embrace these untruths just to advance their own personal agenda.
The report released for the 10th year in succession is being done with the objective of outlining the continuing challenges across the globe, including in the U.S. 

Source: (GINA) https://guyanachronicle.com/2011/06/30/2011-tip-report-not-representative-of-guyanas-reality-yet-again