Residents of Southern Grenadines sensitized about Human Trafficking

Residents of the most southerly communities of Union Island and Mayreau are now better equipped to identify potential cases of human trafficking on those Grenadines Islands. This is after a hectic three-day sensitization campaign on the islands by officers attached to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit (ATIPU), the unit which is responsible for combating human trafficking in St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

On Monday, April 25, 2016, deputy head of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit, Station Sergeant Junior Simmons and Constable 204 Garet Dopwell embarked on an almost five-hour journey on board M/V Barracuda to Union Island and Mayreau, not to enjoy the beautiful beaches and turquoise waters, but to educate the residents on issues relating to human trafficking.

On Tuesday, April 26, 2016, the team conducted its first session at the Mary Hutchinson Primary School at 9 a.m. where over 120 students and eight teachers were sensitized about human trafficking. Then, at 1 p.m. the same day, a similar number of students and teachers at the Stephanie Browne Primary School were recipients of the same presentation.

Then on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, it was the turn of the students and teachers of the Union Island Secondary School. At 7 p.m., the team conducted a presentation entitled “Introduction to Human Trafficking” to the congregation of the Ashton Seventh Day Adventist Church.

On Thursday, April 28, 2016, at 6:45 a.m., the team journeyed to Mayreau on the school boat (the boat that transports secondary students from Mayreau to Union Island) and conducted a presentation on Child Trafficking to the small population of staff and students at the Mayreau Primary School. Plans were also in place to do a presentation to members of the community, but because the Mayreau Regatta commenced on the same day, many persons were out fishing and otherwise preoccupied with regatta activities; hence this plan did not materialize.

Officer Simmons and Dopwell wrapped up their mission to the Southern Grenadines with a community presentation at the Union Island Learning Resource Centre, where over 95 per cent of the police officers stationed on the island were in attendance along with Customs officers, Immigration officers, Tobago Cays Marine Park rangers and other members of the general public.

During all of the aforementioned presentations, several topics were covered, which included: the United States Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act; the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (SVG); the Elements of Human Trafficking; the Stages of Human Trafficking; the different types of Human Trafficking; the Causes and Consequences of Human Trafficking; the difference between Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants; and a list of initiatives undertaken by the Government of SVG to combat human trafficking.

Brochures, posters, book markers and other paraphernalia about human trafficking and crime prevention methods were distributed to the members of the audiences.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit thanks every stakeholder who played a role in ensuring that the mission was a successful one.