GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, CMC – The authorities in this British Overseas territory are taking claims of human trafficking, that have been circulating on social media, seriously, although some claims remain unverified.
Premier André Ebanks recently confirmed that the National Coalition for Caymanians (NCFC) has called for an investigation into possible systemic failures.
He said the concerns point to weaknesses at the civil service or board level, and stressed the need to identify and close those gaps.
Ebanks also revealed that he has raised the issue with the governor. At the same time, Immigration Minister Michael Myles has engaged the deputy governor to assess available evidence and determine whether deficiencies exist within the system.
The concerns follow reports highlighting cases where foreign workers may have been recruited under pretenses and burdened with debt to traffickers.
While such practices are not new—particularly involving recruiters from regions such as the Philippines, Nepal, and parts of Latin America—officials believe the networks may be expanding and becoming more sophisticated, especially through temporary work permit arrangements.
Past cases have also raised red flags.
During a corruption trial involving English language test bribery, evidence surfaced suggesting some women had been trafficked into the country and forced into exploitative work. However, the broader trafficking implications were not fully pursued at the time.
Ebanks acknowledged that structural weaknesses and limited coordination between agencies have allowed such issues to go undetected.
He emphasized the need for better data sharing and stronger systems to identify and address wrongdoing, while noting that many legitimate businesses continue to operate responsibly.
The issue has been raised before in Parliament, with Minister Myles previously warning that exploitation within the immigration system could be enabling trafficking.
Although those concerns were initially challenged, the government now appears poised to take a closer and more coordinated look at the problem.
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