NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Minister of National Security, the Hon. Marvin Dames said for the fifth consecutive year, The Bahamas has maintained its Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) Tier 1 status during a joint press conference at police headquarters.

The Tier 1 status, Minister Dames said, is given to countries whose governments fully meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum standards.  The Bahamas’ success is due to the alacrity and cooperation of all partners, government and non-government.

The TIPs unit has embraced Memoranda of Association with Mexico and Colombia, two nations that were source countries where victims of trafficking would have come to The Bahamas. The unit has also more than tripled its awareness training and education budget resulting in among other things the creation of eight digital media boards displaying anti-trafficking messages on two main thoroughfares and at the Lynden Pindling Airport over the past reporting period, he said.

We acknowledge the timely intervention and cooperation of Commissioner Anthony Ferguson and the Royal Bahamas Police Force: the anti-trafficking message is spread throughout the country, through TIPs training among police.

We also recognize the efforts of Commodore Tellis Bethel and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s robust training programme: its specialized training of law enforcement and other civilian officers remains a constant on the TIPs year-round calendar.