Children in Antigua and Barbuda remain vulnerable to forced labor and exploitation, particularly in farms, mechanic shops and domestic service, according to the latest U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report.
The 2025 report said traffickers exploit both domestic and foreign victims in the country and warned that youth are increasingly at risk of being pulled into forced criminality, especially amid rising gang-related crime.
Observers noted that children working in construction, agriculture and family-owned businesses face particular danger of exploitation. The report also cited cases of sex trafficking involving girls, with Guyanese and Jamaican women highlighted as especially at risk in bars, taverns and brothels.
While Antigua and Barbuda has taken steps to strengthen prevention — including public awareness campaigns and training for frontline officials — gaps in victim identification and prosecution persist. The government did not confirm any trafficking victims in 2024, and no convictions have ever been secured under the 2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act.
Civil society groups have raised concerns that limited victim-witness protections and weak investigative capacity are preventing children and families from coming forward. Without adequate safeguards, many cases remain hidden and unprosecuted.
The report concluded that until the government can improve screening, provide greater protection for vulnerable youth, and bring traffickers to justice, children in Antigua and Barbuda will continue to face the risk of forced labor and exploitation.
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Oh please, give me an aspirin. Ask yourself. Why this sudden negative focus on Antigua and Barbuda by, of all places, the corrupt, probably the most corrupt country on planet earth! It’s high time that TRAITORS among us be identified and given the treatment reserved for TRAITORS. One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out exactly who are these TRAITORS among us. With a bold unapologetic billionaires club lurking like carnivores in and around our waters, with general elections just around the corner – a serious concern for gay desperados with empty coffers – it is obvious just who is feeding THE ENEMY with these recycled stories just to cause social unrest in our still, comparatively speaking, island paradise. Can you imagine that THE ENEMY is now championing the causes of Chinese and Cuban workers here in Antigua!!!This MUST be the joke of the century!!!:This ENEMY who insists of squeezing the lifeblood of the Cuban masses, this forked tongue ENEMY that never has anything positive to say about China and Chinese people are now accusing Antigua and Barbuda of discrimination against these lawful, welcomed residents. No wonder that THE ENEMY continues to self-destruct on a daily basis in assassinations, shootings in churches, schools, shopping centers……This ENEMY has absolutely NO MORAL AUTHORITY, to condemn any sovereign country anywhere in this world. This ENEMY tried these tactics in Jamaica recently and failed. Antuguans and Barbudans- expect to see a sudden surge in crime and violence. It’s the language of THE ENEMY and the preferred MO of our own local brand of gay desperados. Time to flush them down the nation’s sewer system.
US is saying this? Ok!!!! Deflection?
Tek warning! The truth is the truth no matter where it originated.
What traitors?!
The USA is saying whatever they please to justify whatever sanctions they feel like and are probably planning to implement on Antigua because our leaders have not blindly followed their recent directives.
I do agree that some social issues have started to affect us more than in the past. However, we are still a far cry away from neighboring islands and even more so, the more developed countries.
WAR WITH CHINA IS ON THE WAY!!!!!!!! UNITES STATES OF AMERICA IS WATCHING OUR CLOSE TIES WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT………OFCOURSE THE US IS GONNA BE ON OUR TAILS……DUHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!U THINK THE UNITED STATES WANT US TO HAVE CHINESE BASES HERE…HELLS NO! THEY GIVING US SOFT SLAPS NOW BUT WHENEVR THE SHIT HEATS UP THEY GONNA OCCUPY US SO WE DONT GIVE THE CHINESE OPPERTUNITIES TO SET UP MILITARY BASE IN THE REGION…..
Well I prefer the Chinese than America any time.
America and trump is the devil 😈
They are trying to intimidate this government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean on a whole.
It’s time the entire world take a stand against these bullies.
The US needs to mind their business and stop playing games. They tell lies on any country to justify their nasty sanctions. There is no forced youth labor in Antigua and Barbuda and any human trafficking I dare say is orchestrated by the US. They need to clean up their backyard and stop playing world police. The world has reached its limit with their BS.
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