Annalee Bernard, Gleaner Writer
BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth:
THE FISHING boat 'Amber Rae', which is suspected of trafficking in persons, has been seized by the Black River coastguard pending the outcome of their investigations.
The boat is reportedly owned and operated by a well-known fishing company based in the towns of Montego Bay in St. James, and Nain in St. Elizabeth.
The boat, which arrived from the Cayman Islands on Wednesday, August 17, is now docked at the Black River wharf and has been examined by a contraband enforcement team.
It is understood that eight Japanese nationals, inclusive of six men and two women, landed at the Norman Manley Airport in Kingston on July 28, and were given 28 days by immigration officials.
TRAINEE SEAMEN
They were, however, taken to the Cayman Islands at a cost of US$3,800 per person, on the boat where they were registered as trainee seamen and navigators. The Japanese men and women, who were lodged at the Waterloo Guest House in Black River, left that location on August 16 and are now believed to be somewhere in Ocho Rios.
Investigations by Across the Nation suggest that the methods of the operation involve transporting the migrants in small canoes out to sea where they are met at certain points and transferred to larger boats. From there they are ferried to various destinations.
It was reported earlier this year that Jamaica could be banned from receiving non-humanitarian and non-trade related assistance from the United States as of October this year after the country was downgraded to a tier 3 rating by the U.S. State Department in its annual Human Trafficking Report.
CHILD TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
In arriving at its decision, the U.S. looked at the Jamaican Government's efforts to combat human trafficking by prosecuting persons involved in the trade, protecting child trafficking victims and preventing the activity over the past year.
The U.S. State Department said the Jamaican Government did not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. The U.S. defines trafficking in persons, or "human trafficking", as all acts and attempted acts involved in the recruitment, transportation within or across borders, purchase, sale, transfer, receipt or harbouring of a person involving the use of deception, coercion, or the abuse of authority."
There are estimates that close to one million
people, mostly women and children, are trafficked across borders and within countries.
In the meantime, neither the captain nor the crew has been allowed to leave the boat as investigations are continuing. The owner of the boat reportedly arrived in the island last Sunday to answer questions.
