FROM THE SAN PEDRO SUN
Posted: 29 Jul 2010 in the Investigative Reporting Category
It has been brought to our attention that there might be cases of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors occurring on a large scale in San Pedro. According to an opinionated blogger, this isn't just an issue involving immigration, but also individuals living on the island, in some form or another have encountered, encouraged and or participated in some forms of sexual exploitation. Her post was placed on the Ambergris Caye blog and has caused a big stir within the blogging community here on the Island. Incidentally, over the weekend there was a raid operation carried out. The San Pedro Sun took interest in this story and did some investigating.
In an interview with Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Dennis Arnold, Officer in Charge (OIC) of the San Pedro Police Department, The San Pedro Sun discovered that the San Pedro Police Department was not involved in the operation carried out over the weekend, where three major "ficha" bars were raided, with several arrests were and charges levied on owners and young ladies working in the various establishments.
When asked about the presence of human trafficking in San Pedro, ASP Arnold stated, "I have no knowledge about it. The law is saying that human trafficking is something easy to allege, difficult to prove and even more difficult to disprove. We are not, in any way, encouraging any such thing on the island". The OIC further informed that while no convictions for prostitution or human trafficking have been made on the island in the past, the San Pedro Police Department has made several attempts to bring individuals involved in both instances to justice; however, without the co-operation of the victims and the young ladies involved, the Police Department constantly fails to acquire a conviction. OIC Arnold is hoping for a positive outcome from the weekend's raid, and hopes that some charges actually stick.
ASP Arnold informs the general public and visitors alike that, "Should you know of any case of human trafficking, sexual exploitation in any form, especially of minors, whether through human trafficking or by parents offering their children in exchange for money, as being alleged by bloggers; or by professionals in the community abusing their status and or profession to exploit children, please report it to the police. These complaints will not go unheard. The San Pedro Police can only do so much without someone willing to go on record and stand up in a court of law against the individuals responsible. I ask that if you know that this is going on, come in, make a report and stand by your statement. This is the only way that we can get this problem under control. Help us to better help you."
In order to get an understanding of what led to this very intense operation, The Sun felt the need to dig a little deeper. We contacted Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Miguel Segura, Head of the National Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) of Belize. In a telephone interview with The San Pedro Sun, ACP Segura confirmed that a team under his branch was dispatched to the island on Saturday July 24th where they held a simultaneous raid of the three major bars of concern in the human trafficking ring here on the island. Those were Black and White Bar, the Thirsty Tiger and Los Compadres.
The raid was the direct result of several complaints received by the department from former victims of human trafficking, various embassies and even tourists
that have began to use online methods as means to share this very destructive activity going on in the country. According to Mr. Segura, this is not good for the country as it creates negative publicity, especially in the Tourism Industry, which is one of our main, if not, the main source of income for the country.
ACP Segura further confirmed that Belize is indeed at Tier 2 level on the watch list for human trafficking as stated in a report issued by the United States Department of Justice. The unit worked closely with the human services office, which is responsible for dealing with the individuals who are victims. In cases of human trafficking, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) is consulted throughout the operation. Mr. Segura stated that they are currently in the process of looking at the statements collected along with the DPP's office. Once the element of exploitation is identified and the victims involved are willing to testify, charges of human trafficking will be levied.
As a result of the past weekend's bust, seven individuals were detained from Los Compadres bar, ten from Thirsty Tiger and seven from Black and White. During the process, detainees were interviewed by officers from the Human Development Department and then shifted around in an attempt to identify possible victims. Investigations lead to seven possible cases of exploitation. Two individuals were released, a 28 year old Belizean national and another individual who was the holder of a permanent residency card. Within the detainees were four minors, two Belizean nationals; ages 14 and 17 at the Thirsty Tiger bar, a 17 year old Honduran national at Los Compadres bar and a 17 year old at Black and White bar.
Mr. Segura further explained that when these exercises are planned, they prefer not to alert local authorities due to the fear of a leak to the proprietors of establishments in question.
As a result of Saturday's operation the following were some of the charges levied against some of the individuals detained; on Tuesday July 27th, 2010, Ms. Martha Julia Jimenez Estrada aka Jennifer Jimenez, 24-year-old Guatemalan national of an Esmeralda Sub Division address appeared to face four charges of employing individuals not holding a valid work permit, one charge of employing a person without a valid temporary driving permit and one charge of human trafficking. To all charges, she pled not guilty. She was remanded to the Hattieville prison until August 31st when she will be tried for all charges. Wendy Eloisa Martinez, 22 years old; Kimberly Moraquin, 20 years old; Nellie Gonzalez, 19 years old and Erlinda Moralez, 23 years old; all unemployed Guatemalan nationals of an Escalante Sub Division address, were charged for the offence of failure to comply with conditions of a Visitor's Permit under the Immigration Act.
All individuals entered the country at the Western boarder on July 10th, 2010 under a visitor's permit which stated that the holders should either apply for an extension before July 13th, 2010 or leave the country. All individuals pled not guilty and as none of them were in the country legally, they were remanded to the Hattieville prison until August 31st, the scheduled date of their trials.
ACP Miguel Segura advises all individuals presently involved in human trafficking, exploitation of minors or might be thinking about it that, "We won't condone utilizing this jewel of ours to be exploited, the most important resource that we have are humans, we will not stand for it. If you try to do it, we will be coming for you."
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