The government maintained law enforcement efforts. The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2011 criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed punishments of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine of 250,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars ($92,590), or both. These penalties were sufficiently stringent. However, by allowing for a fine in lieu of imprisonment, the penalties for sex trafficking offenses were not commensurate with those for other serious crimes, such as rape. The government investigated five suspected cases of trafficking, compared with four cases in 2018. Of these cases, three were potential sexual exploitation; one was potential labor exploitation; and the other was a potential forced adoption referred to the Anti Trafficking in Persons Unit (ATIPU) by the Family Courts. None of these cases, after investigation, were determined to be trafficking in persons due to insufficient evidence. The government did not update the status of the investigation of the suspected labor traffickers from last year. The government reported receiving information and assistance from the Bahamian government on a pending trafficking case. The ATIPU increased surveillance at the airport and seaports of entry, marinas, bars, and nightclubs and added surveillance at entertainment spots, restaurants, and social events to identify possible signs of recruitment of potential trafficking victims or smuggling of migrants. Authorities did not prosecute any alleged traffickers under the Trafficking Act during the reporting period (the last prosecution was in 2015), and the government has never convicted a trafficker. The lack of prosecutions and convictions and dismissal of past trafficking cases over several years indicated shortcomings in the government’s ability to acquire sufficient evidence to bring cases to trial. Authorities indicated the police needed additional personnel and resources to investigate and collect evidence effectively for cases of trafficking. The government reported convictions for sexual assault of minors under the criminal code for investigations initiated in 2017; observers reported that traffickers had purchased sex from minors in these cases. The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in trafficking offenses. The government reported that four members of the police force participated in an October 2019 regional cybercrime capacity building and operational training to counter child sex trafficking. The ATIPU conducted training on the elements of trafficking, identification of victims, causes and consequences of trafficking, victim assistance and care, the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, and the Palermo Protocol to 25 Passport and Immigration officials and a total of 79 police officers. In March 2019, the ATIPU presented on the role of police in counter trafficking at a regional meeting on trafficking and smuggling in Guyana.