VZCZCXRO2509
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #0267/01 0602243
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 012243Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4311
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRIDGETOWN 000267 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, AND WHA/CAR 
STATE PASS TO USAID/LAC/CAR-RILEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG ASEC KFRD PREF SC XL
SUBJECT: TIP SUBMISSION - ST. KITTS AND NEVIS 
 
REF: 06 STATE 202745 
 
¶1.  (U) As requested in reftel, below are Post's responses to 
questions regarding St. Kitts and Nevis for the annual 
Trafficking in Persons Report.  Post consulted with the Royal 
St. Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis Police Force, the Ministry 
of National Security, and NGOs and has received no reports of 
any form of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) as defined in reftel. 
 
------------------ 
Para 27 - Overview 
------------------ 
 
¶2.  (SBU) 
 
¶A.  Is the country a country of origin, transit, or 
destination for internationally trafficked men, women, or 
children? 
 
St. Kitts and Nevis is neither a country of origin nor a 
destination point. 
 
-------------------- 
Para 28 - Prevention 
-------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) 
 
¶B.  Which government agencies are involved in 
anti-trafficking efforts and which agency, if any, has the 
lead? 
 
The Ministry of National Security. 
 
¶C.  Are there, or have there been government-run 
anti-trafficking information or education campaigns? 
 
There have been no government-sponsored anti-trafficking 
campaigns.  Churches have been vocal on anti-prostitution and 
anti-trafficking issues. 
 
¶D.  Does the government support other programs to prevent 
trafficking? 
 
No. 
 
¶E.  What is the relationship between government officials, 
NGOs, other relevant organizations and other elements of 
civil society on the trafficking issue? 
 
There is a good working relationship between the government 
and NGOs on promoting human rights; however, there are no 
specific collaborations on TIP issues. 
 
¶F.  Does the government monitor immigration and emigration 
patterns for evidence of trafficking?  Do law enforcement 
agencies screen for potential trafficking victims along 
borders? 
 
There is monitoring and screening on criminal activity in 
general, but nothing special to TIP. 
 
¶G.  Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication 
between various agencies, internal, international, and 
multilateral on trafficking-related matters, such as a 
multi-agency working group or a task force? 
 
There is no formal mechanism for collaboration across 
agencies or departments within the government on TIP issues. 
The Immigration Department is part of the police force under 
the umbrella of the Ministry of National Security.  From time 
to time, the Deparment of Gender Affairs will coordinate with 
the police force on issues of crimes against women. 
 
¶H.  Does the government have a national plan of action to 
address trafficking in persons?  If so, which agencies were 
involved in developing it? 
 
There is no national anti-trafficking plan.  The Immigration 
Act deals with people that enter St. Kitts and Nevis 
illegally and is the closest national legislation. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
Para 29 - Investigations and Prosecutions of Traffickers 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
BRIDGETOWN 00000267  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) 
 
¶A.  Does the country have a law specifically prohibiting 
trafficking in person--both for sexual and non-sexual 
purposes (e.g., forced labor)?  If so, please specifically 
cite the name of the law and its date of enactment.  Does the 
law(s) cover both internal and external (transnational) forms 
of trafficking?  If not, under what other laws can 
traffickers be prosecuted? 
 
There are no anti-trafficking in persons laws.  Traffickers 
could be prosecuted under immigration, prostitution, and/or 
labor laws. 
 
¶B.  What are the penalties for trafficking people for sexual 
exploitation? 
 
N/A. 
 
¶C.  Punishment of Labor Trafficking Offenses:  What are the 
prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking for labor 
exploitation, such as forced or bonded labor and involuntary 
servitude? 
 
There are no specific laws against trafficking for labor 
exploitation.  Such practices would be considered slavery or 
bondage that is outlawed by the St. Kitts and Nevis 
constitution.  It would involve the crime of false 
imprisonment which is a felony. 
 
¶D.  What are the prescribed penalties for rape or forcible 
sexual assault?  How do they compare to the prescribed and 
imposed penalties for crimes of trafficking for commercial 
sexual exploitation? 
 
The maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment.  Indecent 
assault on a minor carries a maximum penalty of 10 years 
imprisonment. 
 
¶E.  Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized? 
Specifically, are the activities of the prostitute 
criminalized? 
 
Prostitution is illegal. 
 
¶O.  Has the government signed, ratified, and/or taken steps 
to implement the following international instruments?  Please 
provide the date of signature/ratification if 
appropriate. 
 
a.  ILO Convention 182 concerning the Prohibition and 
Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of 
Child Labor: 
 
Ratified October 12, 2000. 
 
b.  ILO Convention 29 and 105 on Forced or Compulsory Labor: 
 
Ratified October 12, 2000. 
 
c.  The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of 
the Child (CRC) on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, 
and Child Pornography: 
 
Not a party to the protocol. 
 
d.  The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking 
in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the 
UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime: 
 
Accessioned May 21, 2004. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Para 30 - Protection and Assistance to Victims 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5.  (SBU) 
 
¶C.  Do the government's law enforcement and social services 
personnel have a formal system of identifying victims of 
trafficking among high-risk persons with whom they come in 
contact (e.g., foreign persons arrested for prostitution or 
immigration violations)? 
 
 
BRIDGETOWN 00000267  003 OF 003 
 
 
There is no system or screening process which can readily 
identify TIP victims. 
 
¶G.  Does the government provide any specialized training for 
government officials in recognizing trafficking and in the 
provision of assistance to trafficked victims, including the 
special needs of trafficked children? 
 
The government has provided no specialized training. 
OURISMAN