Guyanese and OECS nationals held as slaves in Trinidad, claims minister

Trinidad's Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — There are reports of people from Guyana and small Caribbean islands being held as virtual slaves in homes in Trinidad, said Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan.

The Trinidad Express reported Rambachan as making the remark on Friday during debate on the Human Trafficking Bill in Parliament.

“From time to time, you heard in this country, up to this day, about people who are virtually slaves in homes of people in this country. Who have been brought form Guyana… or other small islands and working as supposedly maidservants in homes, their passports taken away and they cannot get out of their homes and begging people to get out of the country,” the Express reported Rambachan as saying.

He said in a United States 2010 trafficking report, Trinidad and Tobago was described as a destination for forced prostitution of women and children and forced labour for men.

Rambachan said in 2007, 71 women and children in Marabella were held by authorities, many with fraudulent passports and some had previously been deported from Trinidad and Tobago.

On the issue of smuggling, he said there were reports of people being smuggled into the country through Morua, Carli Bay and Cedros. He also said that many people from Asian countries were setting up business in Trinidad and Tobago, recommending that immigration officers look into whether there were any situations of forced labour.

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8 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    April 29, 2011

    We can’t turn back the clock. We have to move on with dignity and never forget the past
    but thrive and do better in the future. Other races (Jews) that had atttrocities did not forget
    and have moved on.

  2. Anonymous
    April 14, 2011

    and

  3. mouth of the south
    April 13, 2011

    admin for some reason i had to search for that story,,, how come it not on the page n it was news today,,,, is it my browser dat have issues??? jus wondering

    Admin: it is on the page……….could be your browser. Not sure.

  4. mouth of the south
    April 13, 2011

    very sad indeed,,,,, well i guess we’ll not blame the white man this time,,,, i learned that slavery was aided n supported by black kings or tribe leaders in africa,,, where they’d held captive enemy tribes and deliver them to the white man,,,, i felt so emberrassed honestly,,,, i always use to wonder how can a white man come to africa in unsuitable climate n do so much damage,,,, well i got the answer in history class during college,,,,

    • HAHA
      April 13, 2011

      MOTS I felt the same way during a history class in college also. I asked the prof why do we keep blaming the white man for slavery when it was actually our own people who sold us into slavery… 10yrs later I am still waiting for the answer….

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      April 13, 2011

      When discussing the white man’s role in slavery, its amazing how many blacks do not know that slavery was started by blacks.

      I’ve always said that we as a race should read more and educate ourselves on our history.

      • Jamison
        April 13, 2011

        Please do not speak or write about a subject that you are obviously unqualified to discuss. To trace the history of slavery (and not necessarily African slavery) research by reading Capitalism and Slavery by Dr Eric Williams, writings of C L R James (both Trinidadians) The flourishing trade existed in the Levant long before Columbus and before that in Ancient Rome; for Christians, there is reference in the Bible

    • Pal rep
      April 14, 2011

      The whites did their dirty deeds ‘and’ wrote accounts of it, from which you and your profs you studied to pass tests in schools. How do you expect to get accurate accounts of what went on. I would be dumb-founded if they didn’t blame the victims ‘Africans’ for their own slavery.

      You are not in school any more…do some real research on African slavery and sort thru the rubble of the accounts the whites gave on their dirty deeds. You may even check the library of London, lots of enlightening stuff you ‘d never imagine can be found there too, written by the same perpetrators.

      So…do some research pal, you all not in school anymore!

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