Regional anti-trafficking training targets gaps from investigation to trial

By Kisean Joseph

Kisean.joseph@antiguaobserver.com

A regional training programme aimed at closing gaps between human trafficking investigations and court proceedings ended in Antigua and Barbuda on Friday and brought together about 60 investigators, prosecutors and judges for five days of practical exercises.

The Advanced Multi-Disciplinary Trafficking in Persons Programme, delivered by the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), ran from 14 to 18 September. Participants came from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda Forensic Services, the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Division, the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the judiciary.

The programme centred on a simulated trafficking case that progressed from investigation to courtroom proceedings. During the first two days, investigators conducted multi-country enquiries, assessed financial and digital evidence, and responded to developments designed to test their decision-making. Prosecutors reviewed the investigative file, charging decisions and disclosure obligations on the third day.

Judges examined case-management procedures on the fourth day, including protections for victims and child witnesses. On the final day, all three professional groups took part in an integrated exercise that followed the case from investigation to verdict.

About 60 per cent of the programme consisted of practical exercises based on Antigua and Barbuda’s Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2010, and the National Action Plan. The training emphasised a victim-centred approach, the non-punishment of victims compelled to commit offences, and cross-border cooperation.

Phillisha Pardo, acting director of the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Unit, said the lessons from the programme would be put into practice immediately.

“The intent of the training was to bring all the practitioners together and present best practices to ensure a cohesive and practical approach going forward,” she said.

Pardo identified the time taken for cases to reach trial as a persistent weakness in the country’s investigation-to-conviction process.

“The gaps would be the timeframe that cases go before the court. That has always been the issue — the duration of the trial to come before the court,” she said.

Pardo said the unit includes an education task force and a cases task force. The latter manages investigations before referring matters to prosecutors and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

CARICOM IMPACS Executive Director Lt Col Michael Jones said successful trafficking prosecutions require coordination beyond the investigation stage.

“Investigators, prosecutors, the judiciary and victim-support services have distinct responsibilities, but gaps between them can undermine both protection and justice,” he said. “Our collective success must be measured not simply by cases brought before the courts, but by justice delivered, offenders held accountable, and victims supported to rebuild their lives.”

Pardo said cooperation with CARICOM IMPACS was intended to promote consistent practices and closer coordination across the region.

“This is the main reason we cooperated with CARICOM — so that we can have best practices from within the region and everybody has one message and one way of cooperating down the line,” she said.

She also urged the public to report suspected trafficking, saying all information would be investigated and matters found not to involve trafficking would be referred to the relevant agency.

The training team included regional practitioners from Guyana and Jamaica and formed part of a wider CARICOM IMPACS initiative to strengthen national and regional counter-trafficking capacity across member states.