Minister of National Security Hon. Peter Bunting has outlined a number of measures being undertaken to improve Jamaica’s current ranking of Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 1 as designated in Annual Trafficking in Persons Report of the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

 Minister Bunting was speaking during a publicity event on human trafficking yesterday.

The event took the form of a radio outside broadcast and was hosted by the Public Education Subcommittee of the National Taskforce against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) at the Half-way Tree Transportation Center in St. Andrew.

Minister Bunting explained that some of the activities being undertaken to improve Jamaica’s Tier 2 Watch list ranking include a public education campaign and the operationalisation of a TIP shelter for victims. He said a Cabinet Submission will also be tabled in a few weeks to address the issue.

Minister Bunting further explained that the outside broadcast marked the kick-off of a series of public education activities geared towards addressing the problem of trafficking in persons in Jamaica.

He said the aim is to heighten awareness about human trafficking and to outline the signs to look for to avoid becoming a victim.

The event was attended by stakeholders from both government and non-governmental organizations such as Woman Inc, the Child Development Agency, the Office of the Children’s Registry, the Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Displays and tables were mounted by some of these organizations and a variety of information on TIP and TIP-related activities was provided.

Scores of students and other members of the public were on hand to see radio personality Khadeen Hylton (Miss Kitty), accept flyers and giveaways and see performances from the Bashy Bus Crew and dub-poet Randy McLaren.

Under Section 4 of Jamaica’s Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression, and Prosecution) Act, 2007: trafficking in persons refers to the recruitment, transportation, transference, harbouring or receipt of another person within Jamaica; from Jamaica to another country; or from another country into Jamaica for the purpose of exploitation. This can be done through threats or use of force or other forms of coercion; abduction, deception or fraud, the abuse of power or a position of vulnerability as well as the giving or receiving of a benefit in order to obtain the consent of a person who has control over another person.