The Soroptimist Club of Anguilla, in an effort to develop an awareness of human trafficking, embarked on four days of special activities on Wednesday, July 28th. The launch was made at the Human Affairs Office in The Valley.
To highlight the opening of these activities, there was a special address given by the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, with responsibility for Human Rights, Mr. Kenneth Hodge.
Gathered in Mr. Hodge’s Office were officers of the Soroptomist Club, including its President, Mrs. Blondell Rodgiers, its Human Affairs Advocate, Mrs. Lana Hoyoung, and Communications Officer, Mrs. Ursil Webster. They were accompanied by Rev. Wilmoth Hodge of the Methodist Church who offered a prayer for the four days of activities.
In addressing the Minister, Mrs. Hoyoung said: “Honourable Mr. Kenneth Hodge, we thank you for accepting us here today. Under the mandate of Soroptimist International, the Caribbean region is required to observe a day or a week in recognition of human trafficking. We, in Anguilla, as small as we are, recognize the importance of undertaking a series of activities to highlight the social ills of human trafficking. We are indeed grateful to you, Mr. Minister, for taking time out to share with us your views on the matter of human rights with regard to this scourge, even as we in Anguilla do experience some level of human trafficking.”
The President of Soroptimist, Mrs Rodgiers also spoke: “Soroptimist International has been very active in projecting its condemnation of human trafficking for many years. This mantra has been passed on to all the Clubs throughout the world. We are part of creating awareness to the ills of human trafficking in our society. As President this year, for the Soroptiomist International Caribbean Network (SICN), I thought that it would be ideal to do something for the day that is designated as Human Trafficking Day, which is Friday, July 30th.”
She continued: “I am happy to be here this afternoon, and I think we are in the right place because one of the greatest stakeholders in this cause is government. Without government’s input we cannot go too far. But if we have government on our side we can work together to make things happen.”
In responding, the Honorable Minister Hodge gave an overview of the degree of human trafficking in Anguilla: through the following statement: “I am very happy to support this activity today. As someone who has been steeped in gender and human rights, for over fifteen years, I consider it an honour, and a privilege, to endorse this initiative being spearheaded by the Soroptimist Club of Anguilla. I take note that the theme in the region is: ‘Victim’s Voices Lead the Way.’ In Anguiila, the Soroptimists who are localising this initiative, have as their theme. ‘Stop the Tears.’”
He continued: “The offence of human trafficking is defined and penalised pursuant to Sections 246 and 247 of the Criminal Code. Intelligence suggests that there is no identifiable level of sophistication linked to this crime…While there is no evidence that a serious crime group is organised or operating in Anguilla, it is believed that several individual networks are facilitating the movement of persons and funds to and from Anguilla.”
He went on: “These individuals in Anguilla are believed to be networking with other individuals in foreign jurisdictions such as Antigua and Barbuda, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin and Venezuela.”
The Minister noted: “Between 2014 and 2018 Anguilla’s statistics show that there were 8 criminal investigations conducted relating to this offence. In terms of investigations conducted by the the Immigration Department, there were 54 matters of human trafficking spanning the periods 2014 to 2019.”
He then gave a breakdown of the 54 cases: “In 2014,” he said, “there were 9 cases; in 2015 4 cases, in 2016 there were 12; in 2017 there were 9 cases; in 2018 there were 12, and in 2019 there were 8 cases. These are troubling statistics for an island the size of Anguilla with our small population.”
The Minister noted that the main origins identified in human trafficking in Anguilla included nationals from the Dominican Republic, Colombia, St. Martin and Venezuela. “Human trafficking,” he said, “has led to other activities such as human smuggling, illegal residence and sexual exploitation…
“Women who have been victim of human trafficking in Anguilla have come here through false information. They were promised housekeeping jobs and they were not really aware of the true reason why they were coming to Anguilla. There were instances where these women were mistreated and abused — and they really wanted to get back home. So the majority of these girls were indeed victims.”
The Minister stressed: “We have found out that there was a lot of transition between Anguilla and St. Martin with these young ladies. St. Martin seems to be a hub for trafficking these girls. It is appalling to realize that our local boats would have facilitated this illegal practice.” From a government’s perspective, the Minister pledged his support for the Soroptimist stance against the scourge of human trafficking in Anguilla.
At the end of the Minister’s address, the Vote of Thanks was given by the Communications Officer of the Soroptimist Club, Mrs. Ursil Webster.
