The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

THE Chinese Embassy has dubbed the US State Department's report - which spoke of a lack of "freedom of movement" for Chinese workers in the Bahamas, as "groundless".

The 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report described how the alleged deprivation at a large-scale construction site in the Bahamas is an indication that human trafficking may be taking place.

In a statement released yesterday by embassy press officer Yang Guang, the Chinese Embassy dismissed the assertion and stated every Chinese worker in the country has "full" freedom of movement.

"We have noticed the local news leads, citing 'Media outlets have reported that Chinese workers in a large-scale Chinese construction project in The Bahamas do not have freedom of movement' from the latest US State Department Report," Mr Guang said. "Now we'd like to clarify the fact that all Chinese workers in The Bahamas have full freedom of movement. So that we can say the report is groundless."

The State Department's report said: "Media outlets have reported that Chinese workers in a large-scale Chinese construction project in The Bahamas do not have freedom of movement - a human trafficking indicator."

The report did not specify what "large-scale Chinese construction project" it was referring to, but the Thomas A Robinson national stadium, the Baha Mar resort, the Chinese Embassy, and various road projects in the family islands could all be described as large-scale construction projects with employed Chinese workers.

Baha Mar senior vice president of administration and external affairs, Robert Sands had already firmly stated on Tuesday the State Department could not have been referring to their project.

"It doesn't apply to us because our persons have freedom of movement," Mr Sands said, before pointing out: "Baha Mar is not the only construction project going on in The Bahamas where Chinese workers are employed."

The report described the Bahamas as "a destination, source, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking".

"The Government of The Bahamas does not comply fully with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so," the report continued. "Despite these efforts - most notably the establishment of a high-level interagency committee and continued statements of commitment to address human trafficking - the government has not identified or assisted any victims of trafficking or initiated any forced labour or sex trafficking prosecutions; therefore, The Bahamas is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for a second consecutive year."