Guyana has retained its Tier 1 ranking in the United States’ 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, with the US State Department finding that the country continues to fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.
The latest report said the Guyana Government demonstrated “serious and sustained efforts” during the reporting period, allowing the country to maintain the highest ranking under the US trafficking assessment.
Among the efforts highlighted were the prosecution of alleged traffickers, including persons accused of forced labour, the detention of a trafficker who had previously been convicted in absentia, increased training for officials and the opening of a transition home for trafficking victims.
The report also pointed to Guyana’s efforts to address forced labour concerns involving Cuban regime-affiliated workers by requiring fair labour conditions.
However, despite retaining its Tier 1 status, the State Department flagged several areas of concern, including a sharp decline in trafficking investigations and reductions in spending on victim protection and prevention.
According to the report, authorities initiated 16 trafficking investigations in 2025, down from 31 in 2024. Of the 16 investigations, eight involved sex trafficking, seven involved forced labour and one related to an unspecified form of trafficking.
Four suspects were prosecuted during the year, two for alleged sex trafficking and two for forced labour, compared with three prosecutions in 2024.
One trafficker was convicted of sex trafficking and sentenced to at least 48 months in prison.
The US report also noted a decline in the number of trafficking victims identified.
Authorities identified 390 victims in 2025, compared with 416 the previous year. Of those identified last year, 296 women and eight girls were victims of sex trafficking, while 85 men were exploited through forced labour. One boy was identified as a victim of an unspecified form of trafficking.
The overwhelming majority of the victims were foreigners. Of the 390 victims, 375 were nationals of Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, India and Colombia, while 15 were Guyanese.
Only 25 victims were referred to care during the year, according to the report.
Funding for victim services also declined from G$132.6 million in 2024 to G$116.9 million in 2025.
While the government completed a 30-person transition home for victims in July 2025, the State Department said non-governmental organisations reported that some shelters were closed during the year, “possibly resulting in the re-victimization of some victims.”
There was an even steeper reduction in funding for trafficking prevention. The government allocated approximately G$83.3 million for prevention efforts, down from G$169.5 million in 2024.
Nevertheless, authorities continued public awareness programmes targeting vulnerable groups, including miners, hotel operators, Indigenous community leaders, schools, private security companies and community policing groups.
Three anti-trafficking hotlines were also maintained, including one for Spanish speakers, while a QR code reporting system was introduced in July 2025. The hotlines received 15 reports of alleged human trafficking during the reporting period.
The State Department further raised concerns about Guyana’s regulation of labour recruitment agencies and trafficking risks involving workers at China-affiliated worksites.
It said the government did not adequately oversee recruitment agencies or prevent workers from being charged recruitment and placement fees. It also noted that legislation intended to strengthen regulation of labour recruitment remained unfinished for a fourth consecutive year.
The report further pointed to challenges in Guyana’s interior, where limited government presence reportedly affected the monitoring of establishments, screening for victims and enforcement efforts.
