By Leroy Smith
[www.inewsguyana.com] – President of the Guyana Women Miners Association Simona Broomes is of the view that Parliamentarians on both sides of the House are taking the issue of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and other forms of trafficking as a non-priority.
According to Broomes, while alarming but not surprising was the statement of Human Services Minister Jennifer Webster who noted that the Ministry recorded some twenty cases of TIP last year, but she (Webster) did not find it to be alarming.
Broomes told reporters that the Minister’s statement sends the wrong message to the police and judiciary that Trafficking in Person is not a serious matter and there is no need for alarm.
Broomes along with several groups on Wednesday, April 16 held a picketing exercise outside the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where they sought to promote the voices of women in addressing the issues which affect them including abuse.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster made it clear that the issue of TIP is of priority to the administration.
Minister Webster said that first and foremost Simona Broomes needs to cease her personal attacks and work with the ministry on the issue. The Minister said that Broomes is of the view that “she can just pick up the phone and call the police or the ministry and report a case and the matter should be dealt with expeditiously when in fact there is a process according to the law.”
The Human Services Minister told iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) that Broomes is of the view that the ministry should be giving her money to aid her work. In this regard, Webster sai that funds cannot be issued without following the proper procedures.
