PORT OF SPAIN: Sunday December 21 2008, The Guardian newspaper of Trinidad published a disturbing report in which it alleges that human traffickers are on the prowl, looking to lure children and women to sell them for big money.
The report states that “children, because they live longer, are sold for over $200,000. Adults can fetch as much as $100,000. They are mostly used as sex slaves and sometimes for slave labour.
“Sometimes, they are used to make pay-offs in the drug trade — a well placed source informed the Sunday Guardian.”
The report stated that men owing drug lords are being lured into capturing humans, who will be sold for payment of their debts.
A source, pleading for anonymity for fear of his life, said victims were drugged almost immediately after capture and their cellphones switched off.
A Sunday Guardian investigation revealed that the lucrative human trafficking ring is operating in the Cascade/St Ann’s area, between Sangre Grande and Tunapuna, Diego Martin and in South.
Women have mysteriously disappeared from the Cascade area without a trace during the past year and “several straying young boys have vanished from the streets of San Fernando“.
The report further stated that the clandestine local trade, which operates through a well organised network and is supported by several powerful agencies, is linked to an international human trafficking ring.
Even some policemen are convinced that there is a human trafficking ring in Trinidad and they suspect that a number of missing persons have been victims of the trade, but were reluctant to say more.
According to the newspaper report, “fingers are pointing at a popular businessman, who has been described as the ‘big man’ in the human trade.”
“He’s popular. He is also linked with other businessmen across the country.”
The information was unearthed by a local resident after a female relative went missing several months ago. The man said his family, desperate for answers, launched their own investigation with the support of a police officer and local private investigators.
We will follow up with this story and keep you posted.
Oh my goodness!
Where are we going? There is no justice and no law.
this is very sad to hear, this world is becoming a very sad and scary place to live now with all kind of crime and natural disasters.
I am horrified at this…especially since it has hit Central Trinidad now….why aren’t the culprits being brought to justice? How many more must disappear??
Don’t worry a secret rganisation has pertinent information and they are going to bring these bastards down.. Firstly they are going to deal with the business man..”The BIG MAN”.. We all know who this is….right?? Then they are going to deal with all the immigration officers, police officers, coastguard personnel, who got their pockets FAT by these Criminals who pay them to turn their eye off… Guess what they know who they all are… and its going to be published in the local newspapers soon.. So people there is hope for 2009…
@Shane, a year has passed. What has this “secret organisation” done? Not a blasted thing. Just like every other supposed institution that purports to be looking out for citizens.
I’m fed up. I’m taking matters into my own hands.
@David,
Hummm….like evrything else in Trinidad..window dressing…nice to look at by the outside world. An appearance that something is being done…..but behind the ‘window’ offices are empty, website links dont work, reports get lost…….so advise that if ur visiting this country…..just window shop….dont try to buy anything…cause you might end up with a bogus product probably made in China….
thats not nice to say if u could do something better come and help rather than chat ur old trap like a damn rara
i totally agree with u
@David,
Get involved in a Self Defense Program…. Adults and Kids should learn Self Defense.. At least it will give you a fighting chance of survival…..
this country is to slack, how much more have to go how much more loved one are to go leave die and suffer this total stupidness trinidad needs to get serious.
Apart from the “BIG MAN” I think the police forces in Trinidad have alot to do with these cases. Oh sweet sweet TnT you have became sour.
This problem seems to only be progressing.
Trinidad is corrupted.. I Blame the PRime Minister and other government officals who pretend that there’s nothing going on.. THey allow a terrorist (Abubakar) to walk the streets.. they accept bribes.. Most of trinidads police officers are a piece of shit.. as well as the guys that run the country.. I can go on and on, i dont like the direction that trinidad is heading.. Can someone answer me whos the “big man” ?
@NEIL, I would also like to know who the ‘big man’ is. The Prime Minister seems to know him as he mentioned him in parliament. Why dont th epolice know him or why hasnt Patrick manning given orders for him to be arrested like he gave orders to ban a certain American Political campaign organizer (for the unCOP) from the country. Patrick boy…..I sorry fuh yuh when judgement day reach.What yuh will God , boy?
MANNING IS MESSING UP THE COUNTRY, TRYING TO CAUSE CONFUSION AND ROBBING THE COUNTRY…..
MANNING IS ALLOWING THIS TOO GO TO FAR AND IS NOT CONCERNED AT ALL BECAUSE HE
@JAMIE, Am…Jamie…sorry to tell you but am…Abu Bakr is not dead.
abu bakr is not dead this is signs that the world is ending not even government could put a full stop to this sh**t
Some how i never imagined in my country trinidad, our haven, our home, the place that we always felt safe has reached such a state. Maybe i am naive but i can never imagine trini natives ripping their own children from their homes and families and selling our angels to what can only be described as soul-less pigs. my mind boggles to the thought of what happens to these children, their innocent bodies exploited and robbing them of their souls. Im terrified of this country!!! who can we trust anymore. Do we now always have to be wary and tense? can we not have peace of mind as we visit a mall on the weekends? can we not feel at ease as we make our way to work, school to home? what of those of us thinking of having our own families someday….im terrified. we sit apathetic and allow these atrocities….we as a country are divided, only looking out for number one. for a number of years kidnapping plagued our country and nothing was done to put a stop to it. those of you who read the sunday guardian, do you remember the stories of those kidnapped? the way these ppl lives were violently destroyed. yet our gov”t who seems to be emasculated by criminals fail drastically in fulfilling their covenant despite having leading examples from italy. but i cling to hope that trinis we wake up from our unconscious state and realize we cant let our children be ripped from homes and from their families. my thoughts and prayers are with those families and more importantly to these children. we can stop this!!! lets protect our children….look-out for one another, i beg of you. GodBless
@GEN, i have been to a few local clubs where humamtrafficking is going on eg copa cobana ,dad dan an richgold no one complains when its women from other countrys being force to have sex down here but when ours children anwomen we complain right now the clubs are open an still makeing a lot of money i hope kamla being awoman would do something
i am horrified to think of the little child that went missing and when the parent found her, she was bald and had a change of clothes. i myself had a terrible pregnancy with my daughter (loss of sight, high blood pressure that needed immediate surgery just to name a few) and i can’t imagine people conciously grabbing an innocent child to sell this child for thier organs, sex trade and labour trade.
i was told that there was a little child went missing in a foreign airport and when they did find the child, she/he was already cut down the center and important organs missing.
another country is discovered to traffick only virgins because saddistic men are paying big bucks for them and when they are used they dry up all the blood, stich them back up as to make them appear as virgins again and send them back in all in the same day.
right here in trinidad a woman went out to help a little child who was in the neighbourhood seemingly lost. and when she awoke it was in a strange place with condoms all around her – right here in trinidad
another person reported that she took a car to head home (south) and told the driver where to stop but the driver passed the stop so on trying to unlock the car door the driver kept using the automatic lock to lock back the door. The woman said she quietly unhooked her bra and put it around the man’s neck and began choking him where he lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Villagers came running to the rescue thinking it was a crash only to be told that the man had other things on his mind.
our country reflects the relationship we have with JESUS, and we think that we could try everything else and then when i doesn’t work we pray. But pray in the only thing that is going to work. Pray is the only thing that is going to save us from the demons that are walking this country!
You my friend, need a copy of a good spelling and grammar guide. In particular, pay some attention to what the hell you’re trying to say. I actually reckon you’re a bit stupid. I feel better now.
I was just reading and then you had to comment. So what if they can’t spell as perfect as you. That is not the point of this blog. Like you guilty of something. God is faithful and all will show itself in due time…
It is no surprise to see that our government and backward protective services are currently in the human trafficking probing stage, when actually they should be in the process of arresting these criminals
@v.concern, Why should they arrest criminals when they can give Crime Watch President Ian Alleyene seven hundred dollar traffic tickets simply because as the police man admitted They are ignorant and “Thas how I is sir” . Imagine that a police officer from Chaguanas named Jacob admitting on national TV that hes an ignorant because ‘that’s how he is’? Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will leave my children to grow up here? NEVER ! I will make another child in this country and condem that childe for the rest of his life to be Trini? NEVER!!!!!!!!! I dont care how much tactics they put in place to prevent us from migrating..they could put the passport appointment waiting list to three years for all I care…..I still leaving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So all the CEPEPS who want to saty and vote back for the PNM ..let them do that..I am a skilled worker and I can give my service to other societies that will appreciate me and treat me with respect! I am DISGUSTED with Trinidad!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Capital punishment. Tha’s all.
For all those who think that every single thing that goes wrong in the country is the Prime Minister you need to to take your head out of that shallow place. He (Prime Minister) does not lives in every bodies house, control their minds, everyone of us has a responsibility to ourselves and stop the nonsense of expecting one man to fix every single thing that goes wrong. Our Country needs to repent and pray and turn away from our wicked ways.
@Clair, OMG another ignorant asshole…people like u cause the rest of the world to think that all Christians are stupid , wacko and live with their heads buried in the sand. Foolish person!
That is so true what the last person said, it is so easy to just blame the gov’t. All you people who is blaming the gov’t needs to take a good look at what going on within you household and try to fix the problems within first
@Deb, Hummm , another one. madam…when people dont have things live water,food,clothing,shelter…you really think they care about morals and values that high society hold so high? They dont care..their first instinct is survival. yes iblame the government…billions spent and nothing for it..why in 2010 I don have water in my house ….days pass I cant even flush my toilet……who owns WASA? Who responsible for water security? Me? Steups…allyuh just doesnt know what to say yes. Get off the blasted internet and go feed some hungry people….it have plenty!
Clair and Deb,
I agree, not everything is the government’s fall; however isn’t the government’s job to protect and server the people? And if you don’t think that human trafficking is a problem for the government to solve then who should take care of it? Individuals? And if someone does take it into their own hands to solve matters what does the government do? Arrest them.
“Repent and pray and turn away from our wicked ways”? You sound like that religious fanatic from “The Mist”. Do you really think that’s gonna solve the problem?
@MakeSense (Trevor), lmao!!!!!!!!!! I like that!….
Oh yee of little faith!!!!!!!! Trusting God has nothing to do with religion…
i think human trafficking in our country trinidad and tobago,is really ridiculous. the government needs to do some about this… to me the government isn”t doing their job properly and is lettin our country down… CAN YOU BELIEVE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IS RANKING IN THE 1ST TEN(10) IN CRIME.!!!!!
RIDICULOUS…..
Where in the world will we not find that the government is not failing the people. No Sherries, it is not ridiculous, your country like many others are in similar situations but governement is not going to fix the problem and they never will. Do not get your hopes up. I think citizens rely too much on their governments..remember governments are not flawless enterprizes, they can fail.
I agree with you jay. Trevor on the other hand is a very illiterate, sorry man. But the bible say that these evil doings shall come to pass so we can’t just pray and make them go away, they have to come to pass!!!!!!! These evil doings are our signs to know that christ ‘s second coming is near.
You need to read revelations.In the last days all these evil things have to come to past and they are passing so i just want you all to take stock of your lives and be ready for when that day (judgement day) comes. Ask yourselves this question” i’m i ready for the second coming of christ?” Lord have mercy on Trevor’s soul .
So let me get this right, because I don’t share your point of view I’m labeled as “senseless” and “illiterate”??? YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!
I have read the Bible and I know what Revelations says. In the “last days all these evil things will come to past” only? Have you read history or paid attention to anything that’s been happening for centuries?? Evil has been around long before Christ. Not because you are able to see what’s happening the world more easily through the media now doesn’t mean it wasn’t happening before. Put down your self-righteousness and go read a back, maybe that will server as a revelation to you.
If I die today I am ready, are you? Most people who proclaim to read the great book and to know all about the end of days are usually the ones who are the hypocrites. Simply wearing your loyalty to Christ on your sleeves doesn’t make you more ready than anyone else.
I am a mother of 4 girl children, this human trafficking situation in our country have me so paraniod, if I go to the mall my eyes are constantly on my children, it is a sick ing feeling not knowing where your child is ,what happened to them, and worst , if they are dead or alive, you could never have that closer. My heart goes out to every parent and their familes who are going through this ordeal now. We can blame a lot of people for what is happening in this country, one of the major contributor to this situation and other crime is the break down of the family.
I am a teenage citizen, and with all these crime and corruption going on in this country, i feel very unsafe. It has got me scared. I look at every stranger I encounter with the doubth of the fact. I try to be extra careful when going to and from work not to encounter difficulties, especially where there are human trafficking suspects on the loose. I always pray and ask god to protect me and keep me safe, cause I think he is the only one that would be able to help me in difficult situations. He is the only supreme being that I believe in and the only one I count on for guidance and protection. I think what we need is prayer, lots and lots of prayer to keep us going. What you need to do is pray and have faith and keep up positive thinking and dont let anythink stop you from living, as lond as there is faith in god everything is just fine.
i have three children expecting a fourth im always frantic when i go out. Sundays use to be our day for outings now we hardly ever go out , when we do i\m always nervous and stress
Is it just me, or is something seriously wrong in Trinidad and Tobago. We read time and time again, that people are being trafficked along our coast lines, where is the coast guard, why are there patrols in these area, something is definitely wrong here, or those it have the be the family member of a prominent person for something to be done, let us hope and pray that the powers that be wake up and do something quickly about this situation.
@antoinette, is not Trinidad and Tobago..is Trinidad! Tobago have their shit covered….
Trinidad and Tobago are one and when some of us seperate them that is a bit disrespectful I have familt in both places. I am a Trinbagonian…
Trinidad is going to the dogs and nothing can be done. Sad but true.
we should take motivation from countries that actually seek the interest of their people.Common sense leads us to great skills which the protective services can use. But of course they are distracted by other things. Even us the people are at fault. They let their children “live” but at the same time, can’t they make better choices? Like don’t accept whatever from strangers? But NO…girls these days are easily coaxed by money, sex and glamour, and the men…who are doing the trafficking, are plain crazy. All the country needs to do is find the location of these places…and act upon the things that happen…do not disregard or follow one’s assumptions…this can be taken care of! ALL we need to do is ACT! risk yourselves for you loved one!
WOW. It;s amazing how many people take unconfirmed anecdotal reports as gospel truth! The story about the bald child was shown to be false AGES ago. Most of the cases of “missing women” from Cascade have been shown to NOT be related to human trafficking.
Hysteria and rumour are not helpful to the situation. There are problems in Trinidad and Tobago, but mass hysteria (like what happened around the FAKE container of children on the port story ) distracts from the real problems and the real issues.
We need to start looking at these stories with a critical eye. We need to be better critical thinkers and less credulous. If our population doesn’t start to think critically and intelligently about the issues that face us, we’ll be in a mess forever.
@Jacqueline, Another ass who does believe everything Martin Joseph say. Madam my husband wokred on the port that day…there were children in that container…..jackass.
Jacqueline,
True, the people do need to start thinking about solutions to help remedy some of Trinidad’s problems, but what about the government? What are they doing to remedy crime? It’s has gotten progressively worse over the last decade.
For francis, your response to the anonymous writer who spoke of her fears concerning Human Trafficking being a parent herself, responding to the rumours she heard. I would like to take a stand for this dear lady, you have no right to condemn or judge her based on her grammar. THis has nothing to do with mental aptitude or correct spelling my friend. The truth is always dispel darkness. And you my friend with your proper grammar, trying to intimidate is by far an illterate act for someone so intelligent. The bible talks about men in the last days who having sight where as blind men because they could not see even though they had eyes. My dear friend Jesus talked about out of the mouths of babes flowed wisdom and insight from above. My friend if you are a father, a son, a brother, a friend you will agree with me that the frightening statistics of missing children, teenage girls and women are overwhelming when we live in a country so small as Trinidad with it’s rampant cases of missing people. Friend before you condemn……Think & try to feel with your heart before you let your status blurr you from the TRUTH……
@SUE, Amen to that!
Trinidad and Tobago is a beautiful country,it’s just the people in it make it the way it is right now.
Well as a youth in this place everyone call Trinidad paradise…it is sicking’ to see what we have come to. Such a disgrace. We supposed to be protecting the beauty that we have yet we selling. I cant see what is going wrong. PPL we need to take action and dont take it sitting down.. things does be happening right in front of us and we dont say anything. These are the signs of the last days. Christ is coming…make sure you make it right and live right…
I agree with Denisha 100%
Sometimes we hear about these stuff but it doesn’t really affect us because it hasn’t reached home. Yesterday it reached close to home. I was only doing some research because of curiousness! My mom is a teacher and a very sweet child from her class went to the shop yesterday morning at 7:00 a.m and is yet to return home. I am so scared. This is sick! What is going on with us here? Why are these things happening? What have we turn to now? Where do we go from here? Am just asking you people to say a prayer for the missing children and let us hope that on day we find them safe and sound. My heart goes out to all the friends and families of missing people. God bless!
I am fed up of PNM lovers defending our stupid government!!! The government is responsible for keeping the citizens of this country safe. Innocent citizens are being kidnapped, day after day, and you all talk bullshit about fix your homes???? It’s only when it hits home you all finally understand what it feels like!!! Patrick doesn’t care about any of us! Why are there criminals roaming our streets and not in prison???Why aren’t murderers hanged??? The criminals of this country fear NOTHING and NO ONE. And it’s because of people like ‘Claire’ and ‘Deb’ who are in full support of everything and nothing that the gov’t does!! HANG THE CRIMINALS!!!
@Fedup, Why should Patrick care now…when he is voted out in the next election …al of the hurting and dispossessed will seek his prayers at his church in Gunapo…..then he and his prophetess will heal the nation…….
The problems facing the country are not a political problem. We can’t go blaming Manning or Panday or whoever for our problems. We only have ourselves to blame. I know I didn’t put Manning into power. But the people who did are the ones to blame for this.
We are the ones with the power because we live in a democracy. If we keep putting the same jokers into positions of power and control, then we’ll have the same problems. A democracy fails when the ones with the power (we the citizens) make uneducated and poorly thought out decisions when the time comes. A democracy ALSO fails when you become a die-hard supporter of any one party but that’s another discussion.
Finally, if there is no one else to vote in aside from those who currently dominate the political scene, then you put yourself in the running and offer something these guys aren’t. Anything! Just get these guys out of there.
@Ravi Maharaj, VOTE UNCOP!
I am absolutely afraid of vacationing in Trinidad.The crime is out of control and the politicians and police cannot do anything to control it..The police is even corrupt and so are some politicians. I tell anyone who is thinking of going to Trinidad to think twice if the love themselves. If you want to vacation, there are many other less criminal infested countries to see. In Trinidad the kidnap you, get the ransom and then kill you also and dump your bodies at the corner of the road..What a sick place. The reason why many Trinidadians leavetrinidad is not because of poverty, it is because of CRIME CRIME CRIME and by the way, Patrick Manning is fully to be blamed for letting that country go to the dogs.
omg what is happening in the world today since when hav men seen there own kind as a way of obtaining profit for oneself..indeed the world has been dominated by money which was really suppose to b dominated by love and respect!!! this is especially sad to know our sweet trinidad and tobago the country wher seems to feel like the safest place in the world in now changed by its own inhabitants in which it gav birth too.. this is sad and i hope god has mercy on us!!
i think, that this is very rediculous and the government need to do something about this situation
DO NOT TALK TO PEOPLE YOU DO NOT NO!
ALWAYS HAVE A PARENT OR SOMEONE BIG WITH YOU IF YOU ARE OUT IN THE NIGHT
i no a lot of people are gone with this and the goverment do not want to say.
Please be carefully and safe and watch you back always
BEWARE!!!
Look out for persons offering you an opportunity to be apart of a movie, to become an actor or model. Also, internet websites claiming to lead you to true love are big culprits in this sad game. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, its not true.
If ever you are a foreigner, especially kids, don’t take chances and go wondering off, without parental accompaniment. You can be snatched and vanished permamently.
When they get you, you’ll be immediately drugged, so remember, your chance to escape is pretty slim if your thinking faculties are tanished.
Everyone should see the movies Taken and Human Trafficking.
@Therese, Hi Therese. Is it possible for you to point us in the direction to where we can acquire this movie/documentary so we can share.
@Baiganchoka, you can get those movies in any DVD club..I have both of them.
These women and children who are missing,sometimes i sit and wonder where are they.i am a young mother of 2 and i cant imagine what i would do if that happend to me.all these crimes and nothing is being done to solve them .uhh…just now we would have to migrate to the forest and wait for christ.
People should really take in the movie HUMAN TRAFFICING and see\feel the hurt that those children and women also boys went through.it is so disgusting to see what a human being can be like.so eventhough this is a movie,these things are happening for real.the people who do these things are no douth the devils children.
well we can talk about this problem for the next ten years and it may just get worse,so why dont we do something about it ,are we going to just educate our love ones and maybe there friends ? what about the others those young ones whose parents friends or even teachers haven’t yet brought this topic to the forum we cant always wait for the law we also have the law in our hands meaning we know right from wrong and we know that this monster problem needs to be address let us get together let us spotlight this thing this shadow that is there in the dark there is so much that we can do.i have some ideas and i believe you all do to,well i would wait now for comments and maybe we could start from there.
can i ask who is this “big man” he needs to be hang now KAMLA in power she go deal with them
gaynessssss