Task Force Against Trafficking In Persons Gets $1 Million

The effort of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) to safeguard children has been bolstered by a $1 million donation from the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

Chairperson of NATFATIP, Carol Palmer, says the donation will be shared evenly between the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Division and the Centre For Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA).

“The particular area of interest is children who are being abused or exploited and the crimes relating to those investigated by CISOCA relate to children being physically abused…sexually abused especially, and to human trafficking, both in the straight human trafficking crimes and crimes akin to trafficking – hence the two beneficiaries of this donation,” she explained.

Mrs. Palmer expressed gratitude to the JHTA on behalf of the government and people of Jamaica, noting that the donation will assist to improve resources for service to children, especially those being abused or exploited.

Meanwhile, President of the JHTA, Nicola Madden Greig, said the JHTA is pleased to make a contribution that will aid in safeguarding children.

Mrs. Greig highlighted that the JHTA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an organization, The Code, which gives training materials and support to the travel and tourism industry to be used in training hotel staff to identify potential cases where there may be exploitation or abuse of a child on a property.

“We recognize at this time that it is not an issue in Jamaica, but we want to be ahead of the curb and make sure we do not become a part of the problem. We have several members who have signed up and are being trained in detection,” she said.