Govt reaffirms commitment to combating human trafficking as Guyana retains Tier 1 status

Days after it was reported that Guyana has retained Tier 1 status, the highest ranking, in the United States Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, Home Affairs Minister and Co-Chair of the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, Oneidge Walrond, welcomed the ranking while highlighting that Guyana has held this ranking every year since 2017.

“Ten consecutive years at Tier 1 recognises sustained work across our national response to human trafficking. Our responsibility is to ensure that this work reaches people at risk of exploitation, and that victims and survivors can access protection and support. We will continue working with law enforcement, service providers and communities to prevent trafficking and bring offenders to justice,” Minister Walrond stated.

The report confirms that the Government of Guyana fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, and that it continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period.

During the reporting period, the Government prosecuted alleged traffickers for both sex trafficking and forced labour, and detained a trafficker previously convicted in absentia. It trained police, judges, immigration officers and other officials in victim identification and trauma-informed investigations. In July 2025, the Government completed a 30-person transition home, where victims receive a 10-day reflection period free from law enforcement interviews.

The Government also introduced a QR code system for reporting suspected trafficking, maintained three dedicated hotlines including a Spanish-language line, and carried out awareness outreach with Toshaos, miners, hotel operators and schools. The report found that penalties under the Combating Trafficking of Persons Act 2023, which range from five years to life imprisonment, are sufficiently stringent.

The national response is guided by the 2026–2030 National Action Plan for the Prevention and Response to Trafficking in Persons. The Plan is built on four pillars: prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership. It was shaped through consultations with government agencies, civil society organisations, survivors and other stakeholders, and is being implemented through the Ministerial Taskforce and its thematic subcommittees.

The report’s recommendations will inform continued work to strengthen enforcement in interior regions, expand victim identification among vulnerable groups, and modernise oversight of labour recruitment as Guyana’s economy grows.

Anyone with information about suspected trafficking in persons is encouraged to report it to the nearest police station, or to call the 24-hour hotlines at 623-5030, 227-4083 or 624-0079 (Spanish).