ST JOHN’S – Lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at combating the problem of human trafficking, one year after a United States State Department Trafficking in Persons Report criticised Antigua and Barbuda for not strengthening anti-trafficking legislation.
The Trafficking in Persons Prevention Act 2010 was passed in the senate last Thursday despite the absence of opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) legislators who boycotted the sitting.
Under the new legislation, persons found guilty of trafficking in persons can face maximum fines of EC$500 000 (US$185 180) and be imprisoned for up to 30 years.
Where the person who is the subject or the victim of trafficking is a child, a special penalty fine not exceeding EC$300 000 (US$11 100) and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 25 years is imposed and where the offence is committed for sexual exploitation of a child, meaning a person under the age of 16, the maximum fine would be EC$500 000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 years.
National Security Minister Errol Cort, in tabling the legislation, citied several instances where individuals were brought into the country and exploited.
The report said this country may also be a destination country for women trafficked for the purpos of forced domestic servitude.
Well-financed businessmen from the Dominican Republic and Antiguan citizens acting as pimps and brothel owners traffic women into the four main illegal brothels that operate in Antigua, as well as to private residences that operate as brothels, the report said. (CMC)
