Human Trafficking and Hattieville - interesting

[collyk]

Read an interesting article today accusing Hattieville Prison of intentionally holding victims of human trafficking. Was interested in people's thoughts.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-469552

[Zelda]

faith-based incarceration... plus privatized for-profit prison... a deadly combination.

very little reason for them to let ANYONE go, if they're making money.

very disquieting, especially the part about there never being a trial... or investigation for these victims.

[Zelda]

and yeah, I know Kolbe Foundation is doing a bazillion times better than the previous prison, with its hell-hole conditions.

but still, we can do BETTER than the way it is now.

[Dave Bunk]

Just to set the record straight as I spent a couple of years volunteering in Hattieville before and after Kolbe took over. First is that GOB stopped paying for the operation of the facility after the second year. Mr Woods funds it totally on his own through private donations. The only part the GOB plays is in the guards pay. Knowing John Woods personally there is not a man of higher character I know of. And it is the guards who he can do nothing about that cause more problems with drugs and abuse. He has personally raised the standards there 500 percent better than when he took over. I dare any bleeding heart to do half as much as he has done with no credit given but tons of abuse. Sure is no one wanting to do what he is doing. Enough of my soapbox rant.

[Zelda]

yes Dave, that's why I returned to clarify, that I know the Kolbe Foundation is doing hugely better than the previous facility managers... that was a truly vile place.

Buildings and cells were incomplete. There were no sewerage facilities, no potable water. 300 beds held 900 prisoners. Cells designed to hold two men had to house up to a dozen. When it rained, cells flooded. Many inmates slept without bedding on the wet floors. No kitchen or mess hall was available. Arrangements had not been made for proper disposal of garbage. There was no in-house hospital or clinic

http://www.kolbe.bz/main/index.php?section=18

oh, and Kolbe is NON-profit, I was referring to the for-profit prisons in the US with that part.

I'm certain Woods is a good person, who else would undertake such a thankless task?

perhaps you could call this to his attention, as I'm sure he has an explanation... I just feel very uneasy when victims are incarcerated...

their ID is taken, in order to hold them helpless hostage to the traffickers, so how can they prove who they are? and how can they ever be released if they're not brought to trial?

[Dave Bunk]

All of that is controlled by the courts not Kolbe. While I was there saw so many cases where people were wrongly arrested and the courts refused to admit and let people go. But unless there is an advocate system in place nothing happens. The man who I worked with in the prison was sentenced to 6 months, 2 years later he was released and that was only after several people took up his case and forced action. When he was released he returned the next day to help others in Hattieville. I spent 2 years with him working in Max and Med section going cell to cell helping men and women there as my wife volunteered there as well.

[catdance62]

If the GOB has to pay to incarcerate people, then why would they let them stay in there past their sentence?
That place does sound like a hell-hole. Is there potable water now and a sewage system? How do the prisoners get fed?
I've heard of some TERRIBLE prisons in other countries, and this sounds very similar.

[Zelda]

Sandy, that quote I pasted in from the Kolbe website describes the conditions at Belize Central PRison... BEFORE Kolbe took over, and improved things.

GOB stopped paying for the operation of the facility after the second year. Mr Woods funds it totally on his own through private donations. The only part the GOB plays is in the guards pay.

that seems in contradiction to the article's assertion:

The Kolbe Foundation, which runs Hattieville, receives from the Belize government $1,080 (Belize) for each victim incarcerated on 90-day remand.

so I started researching:

this undated PDF: Woods_web (1).pdf article by John Woods says that the GOB contract guarantees payment to Kolbe of $12 Bz per day - per inmate...

Addressing The Prison's Needs
Kolbe 12 Belize dollars ($6) per day. per inmate to cover food and housing. Despite the ... the Kolbe Foundation has transformed the Belize Central Prison ...
www.aca.org

let's do the math... 90 days times $12 = $1,080, okay, that explains where Vivian Trill got her number...

so Dave, you're saying the GOB reneged on their contract with Kolbe, and is NOT paying the per prisoner daily fee any longer?

then...why would the Foundation keep people incarcerated if there's no trial scheduled, and no sentence given by a judge?

especially if they have to pay for it with private donations?

if this is just a 90-day remand, what happens to the prisoners (trafficking victims) after the 90 days are over?

it makes no sense.

apparently, there's not many cases involved...

regarding Human Trafficking in Belize... this is part of a report from the US STATE DEPT website:

2009 Human Rights Reports: Belize'

BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010

Trafficking in Persons

The law prohibits trafficking in persons, which is punishable by fines of up to BZ$10,000 ($5,000) and imprisonment of up to five years. There were reports that persons were trafficked within, to, and through the country, mainly from neighboring countries, for purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation.
There were no reliable estimates of the extent of trafficking. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working with the Ministry of Human Development, indicated that three victims of trafficking in persons were identified through year's end. Of the three investigations, two reports were unsubstantiated and one investigation continued at year's end. There were reports that women were trafficked to the country from neighboring countries, such as Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, primarily for prostitution and nude dancing. NGOs reported that persons in the commercial sex trade appeared to be in the country (and in their current occupation) by choice, usually at the suggestion of a friend or family member who was also engaged in commercial sex work. Victims generally lived in squalid conditions in the bars where they worked. Some bar owners reportedly confiscated victims' passports

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/20 ... 136101.htm

[Zelda]

followed the link on the CNN iReporter, and the writer of the piece in the opening post above has a whole slew of articles on human trafficking in Belize:

http://ireport.cnn.com/people/viviantrill

she just posted a new piece:

Belize Tourism Board Profits from Human Trafficking

6 minutes ago

<snipped>

The 2010 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is out, and again it places the country of Belize on the Tier 2 Watch List — the last before hitting the rock-bottom Tier 3 status — for a second consecutive year, alleging that the Government of Belize has not only failed to meet the minimum standards, but has, among other things, not landed a single conviction in 2009, despite existing cases of forced prostitution and forced labor, as well as the existence of child sex tourism as “an emerging trend in Belize.”

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-470270

[Miss Kenni]

I am not sure when Kolbe took over, but within the last 3-4 years two friends of mine (who shall remain nameless) had the unfortunate experience of spending a week in Hattieville because they had picked up a hitchhiker who turned out to be carrying a bit of weed.

The man of the couple is a pretty big guy, and didn't have too many complaints. The woman reported some pretty nasty conditions. Both confirmed that men and women are treated very differently at this facility.

[Dave Bunk]

If the court says they stay they stay. I saw and helped many who were just "forgotten" by the system. One man married a Belizean woman ans was arrested for immigrtion violation and was there for over a year until we helped him get out. As far as the food there was another miracle actually. Mr Woods reached out to the Mennonite community and they donated a complete kitchen and dining area to the prison. Was a huge donation and not used stuff all brand new. Feeding depends on the state of the prison lock down etc. Food its brought to Med and Max sections while the tangos and remand are brought to the dining area. When I started young offenders were thrown into general population to be devoured by the older convicts. Woods built a whole separate section to house and separate the youths from general population and hire separate staff from the normal guard pool to help rehabilitate them. Is it like the Us no but do we really need Belizean prisons having the "right" to cable TV and porn channels in prison?

[woodsman]

... Is it like the Us no but do we really need Belizean prisons having the "right" to cable TV and porn channels in prison?

I'm all for prisoners getting whatever they want in their cells provided they have legitimate, legally obtained resources AND there is anything left of them after their crimes and victims were compensated and their jail costs projected to the end of their sentence are covered.

All non violent offenders should be separated from others and given perks such as conjugal visits, access to better food, cigarettes, alcohol, cable TV IN EXCHANGE for work covering the cost of their jailing and restitution of their crimes and victims.

Violent offenders divided into at least 2 categories and those who caused great bodily harm, rapists, child molesters, murderers after a single incident of violent behavior inside a jail put in a 50 foot deep concrete pit and each given a knife. Or maybe something like a thunderdome and possibly selling TV rights would make more sense?

[collyk]

Human trafficking in Belize is a gigantic issue on every level and seems, from what I see, to be consistently ignored by authorities. One has to wonder what is in it for them. With HIV/AIDS rampant in Belize, homosexuality still considered a crime and only abstention taught in schools, I think it is going to be a while before the community is ready for a frank and open discussion about sexual abuse and human trafficking.

As far as the prison is concerned, I have heard good things about Kolbe in terms of the humane treatment of prisoners, but I also have deep concerns about things I've heard about sentences being shortened because offenders are 'born again' or the revolving door of evangelical churches that visit the prison from abroad and 'saving their souls', whilst I am sure raising a heap of money on the basis that they have done something 'good'. I abhor the concept of a faith based prison of any sort. Quite honestly, the thought of ending up in a faith based prison scares me more than the hell hole described prior to Kolbe. But then again, I suppose I could bullshit my way through like the smart prisoners do, placate the religious folks by claiming to be born again and get my time reduced.

Ultimately, anyone who thinks the prison system (in most places) does a single thing to quell crime, punish criminals or rehabilitate criminals is kidding themselves. Until we humans get our heads around the fact that the current penal systems and forms of punishment are ineffective, I cant' see much changing. I am all for Anton's suggestions. I believe that all criminals should have to pay compensation to their victims and pay for their own housing in prison through work programmes. That and keeping nasty individuals off the streets is about all we can hope from prisons.

[viviantrill]

Hattieville is an atm machine for the Kolbe foundation, sadly many taken to Hattieville on remand never see the light of day again. Lost in the system as one might call it.

The point is Human Trafficking, as one might relate the problem, Belize has three primary issues to deal with.

1. The country has become a freeway to Mexico for Human Traffickers, over 1,500 a month pass through the borders on route to some form of hell in Mexico or the US.
2. Judith Alpuche, the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Human Development has accomplished nothing in the area of Human Trafficking. She has grants from countries to be used for Human Trafficking. Her position hold a seminar and talk about the problem.
3. Immigration knows the problem, however, they are a large part of the problem, when you can PAY and have Visa's, stamped Passport's for Expats and even Residency waived from the normal process to just PAY for it.

look into Belize's most recent Millionaire John Mcafey. Yes donated a boat with a claimed value of 1.5 million. He became a resident in a short time frame. Considering from our investigations into Immigration we found the same person that arranged Mcafey residency in a month would handle any needs we might have for a FEE. Directly our of the head Immigration office at the Capital. A work visa in an afternoon. No paperwork required.

Drive through Orange Walk at the north end of town, the little bars on each side of the road are filled with women from other countries. Are they legal? No.
Now if I can figure this out from my resources why can't Immigration. Someone is paying someone that is how it works.

[Zelda]

welcome to our little corner of the "Net, Vivian.

I am interested to know how you verified the "ATM" portion of your assertions.

Dave says above that Kolbe/Woods do NOT receive money for prisoners any longer.

so it would be good to know where your information came from, and if it is still current.

regarding expats and Visas/Residency programs... WE did it the proper legal way, and not only did it take us the full year of residency, but a whole EXTRA YEAR, of lost files, political election (change of staff!) rule changes, tons of required documents, medical exams, land deed, bank balances, and income verification, and other misc. delays to finally get our permanent residency status.

yes, I have HEARD of people paying to have their residency "expedited" (the "service" was even offered to me, for a fee that was OUT of my budget, we are just simple rural farmers, living near the Guatemala border)

so yeah, if one has mucho dinero, it can be done, via discreet bribes to the right person

<sigh>

Customs and Immigration are two of the BIGGEST MONEYMAKERS for the GOB, and so it follows, that where there is money to be made, it WILL be made through illegal channels and methods.