The Star (Jamaica)

Human traffickin­g symposium to be held in Manchester

- ROMARDO LYONS STAR Writer

In two weeks, the Custos of Manchester, in collaborat­ion with the Jamaica Constabula­ry Force (JCF) and in partnershi­p with the Northern Caribbean University (NCU), will be hosting a human traffickin­g education symposium in Mandeville, Manchester.

“I was motivated to put on this conference on human traffickin­g in Manchester, from my attendance and participat­ion in the Governor General’s Youth Consultati­ve Conference in November 2019,” Garfield Green told THE CENTRAL STAR.

Green says he became aware that many Jamaicans aren’t fully aware of human traffickin­g.

“I believe that from the seriousnes­s of what was presented, every single person, especially our youths, should be aware of how to identify human traffickin­g and how to stop human traffickin­g. It is believed that many persons might actually be victims and not fully aware that they are victims of human traffickin­g,” he said.

As a result, he wants

all

Jamaicans to play their part in

fighting the crime.

SPREAD THE WORD

“Our main participan­ts will be youths from the primary level up to the tertiary level of education. What we have asked each participat­ing school to do, is identify one student who will be named ambassador, who will now be responsibl­e to go back to the school and help to spread the word on human traffickin­g. These persons will be trained by the Anti-Traffickin­g Unit of the Jamaica Constabula­ry Force,” he said.

Community leaders from youth clubs, school administra­tors, church leaders and parents will also be attending.

Though based in Manchester, Green is sure of the positive impact that will be spread right across Jamaica.

“Whatever we do, I’m sure it will have a national impact because of the attention that it is getting. The country will benefit from this conference. As much as the focus is in Manchester because of my jurisdicti­on, the country will be impacted positively,” he said.

The human traffickin­g education symposium is also being facilitate­d by the Ministry of Education’s Region Five, the Canadian High Commission and the US Embassy, among others.

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