The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are providing two days of training to first-line points of contact in Trinidad and Tobago’s (TT) aviation and hospitality industries, as well as to TT’s law enforcement officials, on how to recognize and report human trafficking. The training began May 24 and continues May 25.
Trainers from CBP and the DHS Blue Campaign are providing virtual training from Washington, DC for nearly 200 Trinbagonian personnel. The “Blue Campaign” is DHS’s public awareness campaign designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and how to respond to possible cases. Participants will learn what signs might indicate human trafficking is taking place and how and to whom to report their suspicions. This is the second occasion that the U.S. Embassy Port of Spain has offered this training to Trinidad and Tobago officials.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in partnership with TT law enforcement, also supported the training through targeted recruitment of participants.
The training will cover what is human trafficking, the ways in which victims are trafficked involving force, fraud or coercion, victim awareness, and best practices on reporting to authorities. The training will also include live testimonials from survivors whose experiences intersected with the aviation and hospitality industries. The training will offer participants the opportunity to practice the concepts, strategies, and techniques they have learned through case studies.
U.S. Embassy Port of Spain Chargé d’Affaires Shante Moore said, “The U.S. Embassy works closely with our Trinbagonian colleagues and counterparts to enhance citizen security and the rule of law for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. We are pleased that through CBP’s Adviser to TT Customs and Excise Division, the U.S. Government can further accomplish this goal by providing this timely training for those professionals on the front lines of the travel, aviation, and hospitality industries to become more aware of their own roles in putting an end to the scourge of human trafficking. This training will ultimately save lives and will prevent untold suffering and misery for other would-be victims.”