Indian comm. calls for more dialogue in human trafficking

Two weeks ago, the arrest of businessman Jitendra Chawla on human trafficking charges left many in Belize’s Indian community disturbed and worried. On Wednesday night, task force coordinator Anita Zetina and Director of Public Prosecutions Kirk Anderson met with leaders to discuss the issue and more importantly, to clarify the law.

Arun Hotchandani, Consul General of India to Belize
?The D.P.P. stressed very sternly, and in a very disciplined and professional manner, the law. It?s not targeting any one community; it?s not targeting any one sector, but it?s a blanket that covers everything. So I think with more of these dialogues not only with the Indian community but other communities, it would be easier for the government to get across the message of what they are getting at. That I think will spell it out for the Indians. I think they?re a bit more comfortable since they heard from the official authorities.?

Janelle Chanona
?Has the community promised to relay any information or change anything that they were doing??

Arun Hotchandani
?Well the Indian community are all law-abiding citizens, they were not aware of certain points of the law and the D.P.P. made it very clear about certain points of the law. He read many excerpts from the different versions of the law and he clearly said we are not targeting anyone; we are not out here to get anyone. And the mere fact that he and his team were out there at that official meeting to dialogue with us and to educate the community shows a part of good will, and that they are trying. So I think more of these education meetings with other members of other communities would do well for the government.?

Janelle Chanona
?What would you say to those people in society who might be saying that this issue has highlighted the fact that there are a lot of immigrants from Indians who come here to work when they are so many Belizeans who are saying, there are no jobs. Why are these Indian workers here??

Arun Hotchandani
?First of all, most of the Indians who are here are all inter-related to somebody else here. So it?s more like expansion of business. You will not see one Indian, two Indians or three Indians all in one store. You might see one supervisor who might be someone?s brother or sister or someone?s nephew, for example. And these people onward continue to say in Belize, of course legally, everything is done legally. And they continue to invest, opening more stores, employing more Belizean labour. Investing money, paying taxes I think shows a part of the expansion of the Indian community. You will not see where Indians are brought from India, you will not see them working as just shop clerks for example.?

Jitendra Chawla was arrested and charged after a police raid of his office and warehouse revealed that several employees could not produce their passports. The young men later told investigators that their boss, Chawla, was holding their travel documents. The businessman, proprietor of Xtra House Supermarket, appeared before Magistrate Margaret Gabb along with his attorney, Dean Barrow and is out on a five thousand dollar bail.