The Tribune

NATIONAL Security and law enforcement officials from the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States of America took part in a three-day Trafficking in Persons Workshop over the weekend.

They were joined by representatives of several non-governmental and faith-based organisations.

National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest said the workshop was "especially significant" on many counts, and was an important step forward in strengthening cooperation between the governments of the Bahamas and the US "in rising to the challenges that trafficking in persons presents to our countries, and to countries around the world".

"The number of persons participating in this training exercise - public officers, officers of our security forces, and representatives of civil society, including non-governmental and faith-based organisations, is also significant," Mr Turnquest said.

"This demonstrates the commitment of the Government to build experience, expertise and capacity to effectively respond to the myriad of problems that trafficking in persons present," he added.

The National Security Minister said the matters that will be addressed are ones that the Government takes seriously as it involves a "lucrative industry in human beings".

"It (trafficking in persons) is an industry that continues to expand around the world," Mr Turnquest said.

"The sheer numbers of persons trafficked each year is estimated in the millions. It is an industry estimated to attract profits in the billions of dollars (and) is built on violations of the most fundamental of human rights."

Mr Turnquest said the workshop was also part of an continuing public education and awareness campaign that began on Wednesday when the members of the Inter-Ministry Committee on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) - together with the Women's Advisory Council and the Bureau of Women's Affairs of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development - hosted a Public Forum on trafficking in persons at the Paul H Farquharson Conference Centre, Police Headquarters, East Street.

The Inter-Ministry Committee was established by Cabinet in 2011.

Mr Turnquest said many of the persons attending the conference have participated in a wide-range of training exercises offered by regional and international organisations, including the Organisation of American States and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. This, he said, further speaks to greater capacity building.

"They have brought back to their ministries and agencies the experience and information gained in the training exercises, to be incorporated into their day-to-day work," Mr Turnquest said.

"Some are part of special arrangements made for the prosecution of those that traffic in persons and to assist actual or potential victims of trafficking," Mr Turnquest added.