GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The National Reporting Bureau (NRB) for Human Trafficking recently met with Vice Consul for the Dominican Republic Renaldo Alverez, who represents Dominicans residing in the country and are part of the Sint Maarten community.
The purpose of the meeting was to maintain an ongoing partnership with consular representatives and community groups that represent various nationalities residing in the country.
In the meeting the NRB conveyed to the representatives the need to continuously strengthen ties with each minority group representative in the community, seeing that the representatives may have a closer relationship with their members. In turn they can provide information to their membership about the NRB and also how they could assist in combatting human trafficking by being informed about the mechanism that is in place.
Some of the key topics discussed during the meeting were the NRB’s organization, its responsibilities and the human trafficking indicators that can be used if trafficking is suspected.
Victims of trafficking in humans can be found in a variety of situations. Members of the community can play a role in identifying such victims via human trafficking indicators. Although the presence or absence of any of the indicators neither proves nor disapproves that human trafficking is taking place, their presence should lead to investigation.
There are general indicators; indicators with respect to children who have been trafficked; domestic servitude; sexual exploitation; labour exploitation; and begging & petty crime.
The NRB was established in 2013 and works closely with the Immigration and Border Protection Service which falls under the Ministry of Justice. It is responsible for combatting Human Trafficking and Smuggling in Sint Maarten.
The main tasks of the NRB is to provide information on the risks of human trafficking and smuggling; taking care of the intake of victims of trafficking and providing them with protection such as giving a temporary residence permit; conducting a public campaign aimed at increasing public awareness and specific risk of the consequences of human trafficking and smuggling; channelling victims of trafficking and smuggling to health authorities and twinning partners and international organizations to enforcement staff in recognizing signs of smuggling and trafficking.
To report suspected cases of human trafficking, call Tel.: (721) 542-1553 or email naticotip@gmail.com
All calls and emails are kept confidential! The NRB office hours are from 8:00am till 17.00pm, Monday through Friday, and is located at A.Th. Illidge road #6, Phillipsburg.
National Reporting Bureau (NRB) for Human Trafficking meets with representatives of the Dominican Republic.
