Labour Ministry officer at US trafficking in persons programme

The US Embassy says Tricia Watson has been selected to participate in an International Visitor Leadership Pro-gramme on Combating Trafficking in Persons in the United States.

According to a press release, US Ambassador Brent Hardt congratulated Watson on her selection at a meeting held on November 2. Watson currently serves as Technical Officer in the Counter Trafficking in Persons Unit at the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.

US Ambassador Brent Hardt meeting with Tricia Watson

The ambassador noted that he appreciates the close cooperation that exists between the US and Guyana in addressing this global challenge.

The programme started on Monday and will be held until November 18. It will bring together 19 participants from across the globe, including government officials, immigration officials, human rights activists, academics, law enforcement teams and representatives of social service organisations to examine the global problem of trafficking in persons.

Participants will meet with US counterparts to explore best practices to prevent trafficking in persons and they will be given the opportunity to see first-hand US initiatives to protect, assist and provide social reintegration of victims of trafficking as well as methods to enhance prosecution and enforcement against traffickers.

According to the release, the Programme is the flagship professional exchange programme of the Department of State which annually brings to the US about 5,000 foreign nationals from across the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and to experience America firsthand. The visitors are current or potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business and other fields.