DPP challenges Jamaica's tier two rank on human trafficking watchlist

  

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn is challenging the country's ranking for human trafficking, arguing that despite significant efforts from local law enforcement, US officials continue to hold the country at a tier two ranking on their annual watchlist. 

 

Jamaica has maintained a tier two ranking for eight consecutive years on the US State Department's trafficking in persons report. 

 

In the June 2024 report, the department said the country, out of 95 countries, does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so. 

 

The report uses a four-tier system, with tier one representing the highest level of compliance with anti-trafficking standards, followed by tier two, tier two watchlist and the lowest, tier three.

 

Ms. Llewellyn says Jamaica has established a strong and promising record of holding human traffickers accountable for their actions. 

 

"Now, I'm a member of the International Association of Prosecutors and I can tell you when you talk to prosecutors, including American prosecutors, if you look at the statistics worldwide, we all have the same challenges. Answer, I welcome you and I'm raised to Jamaica but I'm known for rocking the boat, and sometimes I think it's a little disingenuous on the authorities in the States, who notwithstanding the great efforts, insist that we remain at tier two, when we see other persons being put on tier one - who, if you really check it out, they're not there, there yet like how we are in Jamaica."

 

In the presence of Political and Economic Counselor at the United States Embassy, George Matthews, at the Caribbean Trafficking in Persons Forum in Montego Bay, St. James on Wednesday afternoon, the DPP also challenged US officials present to revisit cases which have set precedence regarding the handling of critical human trafficking cases in the Caribbean.

 

"Well, yes, we are ahead in terms of human trafficking prosecutions and also the fact that we have a Court of Appeal decision - Rohan Ebanks. And this was the case dealing with the Haitian young lady who was taken from Haiti by this very controlling man who was fluent in Haitian, and there was a misdirection in it as it related to the rape count and I really had to fight to get it across winning line. But in terms of the judges' treatment of trafficking, it brings out that Jamaica's legislation is a model one; there is no gap. So again, for the life of me, I don't know what it is that we need to do further, she lamented.