Domestic violence, TIP training for 35 Region Three residents

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry educated 35 residents of Region Three on
topics surrounding domestic violence and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) through a training on
Monday.
Held at Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara, the exercise, was a result of a young girl reaching
out to the Education Ministry, after seeing a spate of domestic violence in her community.
Several officers from various agencies under the ministry leading out participated in the one-day
training. Alicia Lewis from the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, addressed
ways to report incidents and how to seek help. Residents were also informed of the services
provided such as the 914 Hotline and counselling.

Ms Daniella David from the Counter Trafficking in Persons Unit, chaired a session on how to
identify and report Trafficking in Persons while Orette Francois from the Childcare and
Protection Agency, addressed child abuse and how to respond, report and seek help. Several
residents said the exercise was informative. Indera Persram admitted that she learned a lot
especially how to be a better parent. She is excited to share all that she has learned with others. “I
have learned a lot of things I didn’t know, and some of the things simply happen around me in
terms of human trafficking, and I don’t even have a clue that there was actually human
trafficking. I learned other things on childcare, where I learned how to be a better mother, like a
child’s emotions, separation in families how they could cause a lot of things to happen to a kid’s
emotion. I would love to share this with my colleagues, patients, a lot of people,” Persram said.
Mortlene Archer said; “I learned about the different parts they have in the ministry that can help
families and the one I really pay keen attention to is the programme they have that trains you on
different courses of your choice and it could benefit you in the long- run.”
Meanwhile, Nanda Smith, a senior citizen confessed to being interested and expressed a desire
to know more. “I learned a lot about child abuse, human trafficking and human services. I will go
about visiting to find out more about it,” Smith said.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, handed out a total of 100
food hampers to residents and persons from Hague. This donation was part of her commitment to
provide support to citizens.