Jamaica moved off Tier 2 watch-list in US trafficking in persons report

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica has been upgraded from the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2. The adjustment is contained in the State Department’s 2013 Trafficking in Persons report. Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting   Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting, who made the disclosure on Wednesday, during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, said he is pleased with the improvement. He said Jamaica was downgraded from Tier 2 to the Tier 2 Watch List in 2012, and once a country is on the watch list for two successive years, “then you would automatically go to Tier 3 the following year.” This, he said, would have implications “for our assistance from the US and our international reputation.” Bunting commended the various stakeholders and agencies for the role they have played in addressing human trafficking. “We have worked very hard and I would like to acknowledge, in particular, the permanent secretaries in the ministries of justice, and national security, who chaired the taskforce involving persons from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and the agencies of both ministries, as well as the agencies of the ministry of youth, that have worked tremendously hard to do a number of things, which has led to us being removed from the watch list,” he stated.