Thirty Guyana Fire Service recruits have been identified as the first batch to receive training aimed at helping firefighters recognise suspected human trafficking cases and respond appropriately while on duty.
The session was scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at the Fire Service Training School in Leonora, West Coast Demerara, according to a release issued by the service that day.
The Ministry of Home Affairs organised the training through the Secretariat of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons.
The programme was designed to introduce recruits to the fundamentals of human trafficking, including the forms of exploitation involved and indicators that could help them identify potential adult and child victims.
Inspector Marilyn Rodney, Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Trafficking in Persons Unit, was among the scheduled presenters. Her contribution was expected to focus on identifying potential victims, while the programme also included a presentation on offences under the Combating Trafficking in Persons Act No. 7 of 2023.
Another area of focus was the appropriate response to suspected victims, including reporting and referral procedures, with emphasis on a human rights-based approach.
Case studies, role play and group discussions were also planned to help recruits consider how they would handle situations encountered during their duties.
The initiative involved representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministerial Task Force Secretariat and the Police Force’s Trafficking in Persons Unit.
