KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has donated $1 million to boost the efforts of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) and more specifically to bolster investigation of suspected cases of trafficking, especially child trafficking cases.

The cheque was handed over yesterday by JHTA President Mr Omar Robinson and, according to a release from the Ministry of Justice, will go directly to the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) and anti-TIP Vice Squad branches of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), which have responsibility for crimes that fall under the sphere of human trafficking.

Chair of NATFATIP and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Carol Palmer, who received the cheque, made a plea for greater national response to protect and secure the nation’s children.

Palmer also expressed gratitude to partners who have been beneficial to the fight against human trafficking, lauding the police force who she described as cooperative, as well as JHTA whose partnership and donations over the past three years have helped to strengthen NATFATIP’s activities.