Published: Friday | August 9, 2013

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is reporting successes in its policing of the Overseas Employment (farm work) programme to the United States and Canada.

"As we speak, two persons are in police custody for having taken the passports of unsuspecting persons and accepting money from them for placement on the overseas programme," said Alvin McIntosh, permanent secretary in the ministry.

"Additionally, the police have been cooperating with us and decisive action is being taken," he said. "For the past couple of weeks, the police have been very active and have interviewed a number of persons." Earlier this year, investigations by ministry officials found persons were collecting money from members of the public for placement in the programme. McIntosh noted the ministry would continue to sensitise the public about the scams.

"We are not going to be relenting on our efforts because we realise that it's a very serious state of affairs," he said. McIntosh was addressing more than 20 farm workers who just received their papers at the ministry's North Street offices yesterday. The event was also to formalise the partnership between the ministry and Caribbean Airlines, the main airline responsible for transporting the workers to North America.

Labour Minister Derrick Kellier also warned the workers to "keep it clean", referring to the practice of carrying illegal substances onboard. Kellier said the ministry had put in the necessary checks and balances to ensure no contamination of the system.