Port of Spain: The Government of Trinidad and Tobago continues to work assiduously to counter human trafficking in this country.
As a result of its overall increasing efforts, Trinidad and Tobago maintains its Tier 2 Ranking as stated in the United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons (TiPs) Report 2019.
The annual report acknowledges the various measures taken by the Government to improve this country’s counter trafficking efforts, including in the following areas:
· Increased anti-trafficking training for public officials;
· Initiating investigations against three potentially complicit officials;
· Initiating more prosecutions;
· Establishing a new intelligence task force to improve investigations;
· Establishing a new Memorandum of Understanding between Government’s Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) and The Children’s Authority to better protect child victims.
The Ministry of National Security is cognizant of the recommendations made in the report specific to Trinidad and Tobago with regard to expanding victim screening and victim services, increasing training on trafficking for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and shelter staff, and further increasing efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, including complicit officials.
The Ministry of National Security’s Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) continues to work steadfastly and in collaboration with partnering agencies, NGOs and civil society to increase public awareness on this crime and to reduce incidents of Trafficking in Persons in Trinidad and Tobago. The CTU is also working closely with independent statutory organizations to treat with any incidents of law enforcement complicity in human trafficking matters.
Members of the public who have information on suspected human trafficking activity should contact the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) toll-free hotline at 800-4288(4CTU).