Scott

The Ministry of National Security says it will be implementing a number of measures as part of efforts to deal with the problem of human trafficking.

The measures include the establishment of a protective facility by next month to house victims of human trafficking.

The permanent secretary in the National Security Ministry, Gilbert Scott, made the disclosure yesterday, following the latest report by the United States government, which gave Jamaica another Tier-2 ranking for trafficking in persons.

The ranking means that Jamaica has made a significant effort to deal with the problem but it does not fully comply with the minimum standards.

Cabinet approved

Scott said the Cabinet had approved the establishment of a unit within the Ministry of National Security's Policy Directorate to focus on human trafficking.

He also said the Government remained committed to punishing the offenders, noting that a letter had been sent to Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin requesting that the police deal with the matter of investigating and arresting persons engaged in human trafficking.

The 2008 US Trafficking Report has highlighted the fact that six police officers were dedicated to the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons and that the Organised Crime Investigation Division of the police force had been reconstituted to focus more attention on human trafficking crimes.