Human Trafficking Probes in Guyana Drop by Half, U.S. Report Flags Funding Cuts

Guyana's trafficking investigations fell from 31 to 16 in 2025, while victim protection funding dropped sharply, per the U.S. State Department's 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report.

Guyana's Anti-Trafficking Effort Weakens as Investigations and Funding Both Decline

Guyana opened just 16 human trafficking investigations in 2025 — down from 31 the year before — while government funding for victim protection and prevention was cut significantly, according to the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report published by the United States Department of State. Kaieteur News reports that despite the sharp decline in investigations, Guyana retained its Tier 1 ranking, meaning it continues to meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking.

The report acknowledged that authorities prosecuted alleged traffickers, trained officials and expanded victim assistance, but found that fewer victims were identified and referred to services compared with the previous year.

Funding for Protection and Prevention Cut Sharply

In 2025, the Guyanese government allocated GYD $116.9 million for victim services, down from GYD $132.6 million in 2024. Funding for prevention fell even more steeply — from GYD $169.5 million to approximately GYD $83.25 million over the same period. Non-governmental organisations raised concerns that some shelters were closed during the reporting period, potentially leaving some victims without safe housing and at risk of being re-victimised.

The government identified 390 trafficking victims in 2025: 304 females exploited in sex trafficking, 85 adult males in forced labour, and one boy exploited in an unspecified form of trafficking. Of those, 15 were Guyanese nationals and 375 were foreign nationals from Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, India and Colombia. Despite the number identified, only 25 victims were referred to care during the year.

Labour Recruitment Oversight Remains a Persistent Gap

The report was critical of Guyana's continued failure to regulate labour recruiters — an issue it has flagged for several years. For the fourth consecutive year, the government reviewed legislation intended to govern labour recruitment but did not finalise the proposed amendments.

Under the existing legal framework, employers, recruiters and labour agents are not prohibited from charging workers recruitment and placement fees, switching contracts without workers' consent, or withholding wages as a means of keeping workers in compelled service. The government also lacks a formal mechanism to screen for trafficking indicators during the hiring process.

Particular concern was raised about worksites linked to Chinese companies and state-affiliated projects, where the report said trafficking risks were not being adequately addressed. The growing oil sector was also highlighted, with recruitment agencies increasingly targeting workers for positions in Guyana without sufficient oversight.

One Conviction Secured; Court Delays Hamper Prosecutions

Four suspects were prosecuted in 2025 — two for sex trafficking and two for forced labour. One conviction for sex trafficking was secured, resulting in a prison sentence of at least 48 months. Authorities also detained a trafficker who had been convicted in absentia during the previous reporting period.

In one suspected labour-trafficking case, however, the government settled rather than pursuing a criminal conviction. The defendant was ordered to pay the victim for unpaid wages and cover transportation costs to the victim's home country.

The report noted that trafficking and other major criminal trials take an average of two years to complete and can stretch to four years, owing to shortages of trained court personnel, frequent postponements and delays in case preparation. A provision in Guyana's anti-trafficking law requiring victims to testify for prosecutions to proceed was also identified as a concern; officials reportedly dropped cases when victims declined to testify.

The law provides for restitution and asset forfeiture following convictions but lacks an effective enforcement mechanism when traffickers fail to pay. Restitution payments can also be deferred while a defendant's appeal is pending.

Remote Regions and Language Barriers Complicate Victim Assistance

The government provided shelter, healthcare, counselling, legal services and repatriation assistance — both directly and through civil society organisations. A 30-person transition home was completed in July 2025 for victims participating in a voluntary 10-day reflection period.

Nevertheless, reaching victims in remote regions remains difficult, as geographical distances delay the arrival of social services. Language barriers further complicated assistance to foreign victims, and fear and trauma made some reluctant to accept support. The report also noted that victims must be formally identified before they can access services, and that some non-governmental organisations expressed concerns about their ability to remain involved in the national referral mechanism once a suspected victim enters government care.

Cuban Workers Remain a Concern

The report again addressed the situation of Cuban workers employed in Guyana. The government sought to establish fair labour conditions for those workers, prompting the Cuban government to end its bilateral health cooperation agreement with Guyana in early 2026. At the start of the year, approximately 110 of the 370 Cuban regime-affiliated workers in Guyana remained in the country after authorities offered them direct employment and protection; the remainder returned to Cuba. Observers reported, however, that the government did not consistently ensure that those who stayed received their wages.

Source: Kaieteur News