By Prior Beharry
THE United States government has sent a Strategic Trafficking in Persons (TIP) advisor to help combat the issue in Trinidad and Tobago.
US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Candace Bond introduced Strategic TIP Advisor Antoinette Lucas-Andrews to Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds on Friday at his ministry’s office on Abercromby Street in Port of Spain. Also present were officials from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), a release stated.
The National Security Ministry release stated that the engagement of the Strategic TIP Advisor was part of a multi-country capacity building initiative called CARISECURE 2.0.
It stated, “This programme equips national institutions and agencies with the technology, equipment, and training to better collect and analyse crime data, in order to create evidence-informed approaches to reducing crime. CARISECURE 2.0. is being funded by USAID and implemented by UNDP.
“In addition to providing support on the implementation of CARISECURE 2.0, the Strategic TIP Advisor will be working closely with the Ministry of National Security, specifically the Counter Trafficking Unit, to prioritise activities of the National Action Plan for Combatting Trafficking in Persons, and provide guidance to the Counter Trafficking Unit to improve Trinidad and Tobago’s annual United States Department of State (USDOS) Trafficking in Persons Report ranking.”
Also present at the meeting were UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Trinidad and Tobago Sharifa Ali-Abdullah; USAID Bridgetown Programme Director Stephanie Mikulasek, as well as other officials from USAID and UNDP; Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Michelle Thomas; and Deputy Director, International Affairs Unit, Ministry of National Security, Retired Major Richard Lynch.
