U.S. Dep't of State, 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (Tier 2) The government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period; therefore, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remained on Tier 2. These efforts included continuing to conduct labor inspections, training officials, including Department of Labor officials, and public awareness campaigns. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.

The government has not prosecuted a trafficking case since 2015 and has never convicted a trafficker, and has not identified a victim since 2019. The government did not provide adequate resources for anti-trafficking efforts, including law enforcement efforts. PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS: Vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms. Increase government funding and resources across all relevant agencies to combat trafficking, including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit (ATIPU).

Consistently screen domestic and foreign at-risk populations, including former IDPs, economically disadvantaged children, individuals in commercial sex, migrants, and Cuban regime-affiliated workers, for trafficking indicators and refer victims to care. Increase training for police, prosecutors, and the judiciary on improved evidence collection in trafficking cases and the human trafficking definition, ensuring presented evidence meets applicable legal standards. Increase the capacity of labor inspectors to identify and refer victims of labor trafficking to care, including children. Strengthen awareness raising efforts in traditional and social media, about forced labor and sex trafficking and the need for public cooperation in law enforcement investigations.

PROSECUTION

The government maintained law enforcement efforts. The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, as amended, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of up to 15 years’ imprisonment for crimes involving adult victims, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for those involving child victims. These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with regard to sex trafficking, commensurate with penalties prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. The ATIPU, a specialized unit within the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Unit, initiated four forced labor investigations, compared with five forced labor investigations in 2023.

The government did not investigate any sex trafficking cases for the second consecutive year. Authorities did not initiate any prosecutions of alleged traffickers for the ninth consecutive year. The government has never convicted a trafficker. The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in trafficking offenses.

The government increased resources for the ATIPU during the reporting period; however, the ATIPU lacked adequate resources and staff to effectively conduct its mandate, with only two dedicated officers who worked on matters relating to human trafficking and child labor. The lack of prosecutions and convictions and the dismissal of past trafficking cases over several years indicated shortcomings in the government’s ability to build sufficient evidence to bring cases to trial. The ATIPU conducted surveillance at the airport and seaports of entry, marinas, bars, nightclubs, entertainment spots, restaurants, beaches, and social events to identify possible trafficking crimes and increased enforcement during carnival, where there could be increased risk of trafficking. The ATIPU trained police officers on the fundamentals of human trafficking, the new anti-trafficking law, trafficking prosecutions, victim care, and victim identification.

PROTECTION

The government maintained minimal victim protection efforts. Authorities reported screening for potential victims and investigating trafficking cases but did not identify any victims; the government last identified a confirmed victim in 2019. The immigration and labor departments, law enforcement, social services, and NGOs continued to use a formal screening and referral procedure for potential victims; the ATIPU was responsible for formal victim identification. The ATIPU and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions were responsible for granting official victim status.

The ATIPU could refer confirmed victims to a crisis center the government funded and operated in collaboration with NGOs for victims of domestic violence and trafficking. The center offered shelter; counseling, psycho-social, and medical care; and education; however, the government did not report any trafficking victims receiving these services. The government reported adult victims could choose between shelter options but were required to follow the crisis center’s security precautions. The government did not provide a dedicated shelter facility for male victims.

The government reported that psycho-social services are provided once a potential victim is identified and victims are referred to shelters after screening by the ATIPU. However, it was previously reported that the government’s victim referral process kept potential victims in law enforcement custody instead of moving them to the crisis center. Funding for victim care was allocated from the national budget as needed. The government could provide legal assistance and assistance for family members as needed.

The government reported victims could speak to social services or an NGO that completed ATIPU anti-trafficking training instead of law enforcement prior to deciding whether to file a police report. Provisions in the anti-trafficking act called for victim protection before, during, and after a trial, such as keeping the names of victims and their families confidential, physical protection for victims, and facilities for victims to testify via video; however, the government did not use these provisions for any trafficking victims. The anti-trafficking act provided foreign victims with the possibility of temporary and permanent residence permits and protected victims from immediate deportation; authorities did not link victim benefits to cooperation with law enforcement. Foreign victims were entitled to the same benefits as Vincentian citizens.

The government could permit foreign victims who remained in the country to work but did not make use of this provision. Courts could order restitution, but the government did not report any restitution or compensation paid to trafficking victims; it also did not report any victims requiring government assistance with repatriation, which could be offered after a safety assessment. Authorities did not report specifically screening Cuban regime-affiliated workers for trafficking indicators beyond general entry and exit screening or implementing measures to ensure workers kept their wages.

PREVENTION

The government increased efforts to prevent trafficking. The national task force, led by the prime minister, coordinated the anti-trafficking efforts of its members, including government agencies and an NGO and met two times during the reporting period. The government reported continuing to provide financial, material, technical, and human resources for the country’s 2021-2025 anti-trafficking NAP out of the general budget of the Ministry of National Security. The ATIPU operated two 24-hour English-language hotlines and monitored an email address for reporting suspected trafficking cases; the hotlines did not receive any trafficking-related calls.

The government submitted an annual anti-trafficking report to Parliament; the report was not readily available to the public. The government continued to conduct awareness raising campaigns, including via radio, schools, and faith-based communities. The government reported conducting anti-trafficking training for Department of Labor officials and diplomats. The government reported that labor inspectors conducted an unspecified number of inspections in various sectors to ensure compliance with the law.

However, the government did not report identifying any victims through these activities. The 1940 Recruiting of Workers Act remained in force and banned recruitment fees. The government previously reported having bilateral agreements with several countries regarding oversees recruitment and employment and using resources in its embassies overseas to prevent trafficking. The government did not make efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts.

TRAFFICKING PROFILE: Trafficking affects all communities. This section summarizes government and civil society reporting on the nature and scope of trafficking over the past five years. Human traffickers may exploit domestic and foreign victims in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2021, the La Soufriere volcanic eruption and a subsequent hurricane destroyed a third of the country’s arable land, made almost all arable land inaccessible – leading to massive crop failures and cutting off the main source of revenue and employment – and displaced a sixth of its population.

In 2024, Hurricane Beryl displaced more than 1,000 people. These natural disasters exacerbated the risks to trafficking among vulnerable populations. Foreign women in commercial sex are at risk of exploitation in sex trafficking. Adults and children have been victims of forced labor in the agricultural sector.

Vulnerable populations are at risk for forced labor in the production of marijuana by criminal organizations. Adults may exploit their children in sex trafficking to generate income, while others may exploit child sex trafficking victims. Foreign workers employed by small, foreign-owned companies may be vulnerable to labor trafficking. Cuban regime-affiliated workers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines may have been forced to work by the Cuban regime.

As of the end of the reporting period, there were 95 Cuban regime-affiliated workers (83 in the healthcare sector and 12 in the construction sector) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines under an agreement with the Cuban regime, which was renewed January 2025. Authorities reported the presence of Cuban workers in private companies employed outside of the agreement with the Cuban regime, including five Cuban teachers; however, it was unclear if private companies hiring workers partnered with regime-affiliated entities for the provision of workers. On This Page search > < SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (Tier 2) PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS: PROSECUTION PROTECTION PREVENTION TRAFFICKING PROFILE: Tags Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Human Trafficking Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Reports Saint Vincent and the Grenadines