Image via Wikipediaby bettyAphilips | August 27, 2010 at 12:25 pmThe trial is a consequence of a national police raid on three ficha bars in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. This was a raid that saw the chief of Belize’s criminal investigation branch refer to a hardcore human trafficking ring in this tourist area. And he also said his squad would be back if there were further evidence of human trafficking in action. We can live in hope.
We have three basic questions that we are asking ORT campaign supporters to send to the Belize government.
Are the bar owners being charged with human trafficking and profiting from prostitution or is Belize scapegoating a single bar employee? According to Belize law, it is the owners that should be standing trial. Ask Attorney General Bernard Q. Pitts this question.
What about the human trafficking victims? It is not known how many of the 24 arrested wound up in Hattieville prison because they are undocumented and in the country illegally. The Catch-22 for them is, they are in the country illegally because they’ve been trafficked. So why are the innocent being punished again? What has the Human Development and Social Transformation Ministry done to identify them and protect them? Ask Minister Peter Eden Martinez.
What happened to the four minors who were picked up in the police raid? Are they in Hattieville at risk in the company of adult criminals? Where are these children, Mr. Martinez, Mr. B.Q. Pitts?
[TRAFFICKING MONITOR: In a personal communication, Ms. Phillips stated that the trial will occur on Tuesday, August 31, 2010, in the morning.].
Belize Human Trafficking Trial Set | NowPublic News Coverage
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