THE House of Representatives yesterday passed the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act, which will implement provisions to prevent and suppress, as well as, punish persons involved in human trafficking.

The bill was supported by the Opposition, but several speakers, including spokesman on national security Derrick Smith and MP Olivia Grange, criticised the timing of the bill as an effort to impress the United States that Jamaica was doing enough to control human trafficking.

Smith said that the government had ignored the signals, despite several reports since 2003 linking Jamaica to the activity. Grange noted that the government was only bringing the legislation to Parliament now, although it had signed the international protocol in February 2002, because the US Congress will be assessing Jamaica's cooperation later this month.

Minister of National Security Dr Peter Phillips, who piloted the bill, said that "in the scheme" of such legislation it was not a long delay.

He also denied claims by the opposition that the growing cases of trafficking in persons in Jamaica was due to declining economic and social conditions over the past 17 years.

The bill is expected to be tabled in the Senate on Friday and debated next week.

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