Antigua and Barbuda has expanded training and adopted new plans to combat human trafficking, yet weak evidence collection, limited victim protection, and court backlogs continue to block cases from reaching trial, according to the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report.
The report said authorities trained first responders and other officials, adopted a 2025 National Action Plan, and maintained a Trafficking in Persons Prevention Unit to coordinate victim identification, outreach, and investigations. Standard operating procedures exist to guide screening by law enforcement, immigration, customs, labor, and social services.
Despite those steps, prosecutorial outcomes remained unchanged. In 2024, officials opened investigations into 13 suspects across nine cases, down from 26 suspects in 25 cases the previous year. No prosecutions were initiated, and the country has never recorded a conviction under the 2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, which carries penalties of up to 20 years for adult trafficking and up to 25 years for crimes involving children.
Observers cited weak investigative capacity — particularly in evidence collection and case management — and corruption within the legal system as factors contributing to an environment of impunity. Courts continued to face significant backlogs due to insufficient financial and human resources. Although courts can use virtual and written testimony to protect victims, the report noted no use of these tools in trafficking cases.
Victim protection gaps further undermined enforcement. Officials identified 13 potential victims in 2024 but confirmed none as trafficking victims; the government has not confirmed a victim since 2019. The report said a widespread lack of understanding between trafficking and migrant smuggling impeded identification, and that the small size of Eastern Caribbean countries — including Antigua and Barbuda — limits authorities’ ability to protect victim-witnesses, discouraging reports and testimony.
Prevention efforts continued, including public awareness in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin, and government spending on anti-trafficking activities. Still, the report emphasized that without stronger evidence handling, consistent use of screening protocols, and practical protections for witnesses, training alone is unlikely to translate into prosecutions or convictions.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
We are not serious. We concentrate on the clubs but the real trafficking is taking place with domestic workers and nannies, security guards, construction and casual labour. The abuse is also big within one particular ethnic group where their class structure teaches them that domestic workers are little more than slaves. As long as corruption reigns in Antigua no one will ever be prosecuted.
@TDavis
What human trafficking??? How easily we expose a service nature by soaking up like sponges all the GARBAGE spewed by the USDA – Uncle Sam Diabolic Agencies. If residents KNEW as fact all the info they claim to have, then why is this anti-humantrafficking NOT coming from these local, lying, low-life traitors living among us NOT GO PUBLIC with their critical findings. Damn traitors, all.
Correction. How easily we expose our SERVILE nature by soaking up like sponges all the GARBAGE…..