Jamaica passes legislation to tighten measures dealing with human trafficking.

KINGSTON -- The Jamaica parliament has approved the legislation dealing with human trafficking less than a month after the United States placed the island on a Tier Two status for not fully complying with the minimum standards set by the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

National Security Minister Peter Bunting successfully piloted the Human Trafficking Bill that which will make provision for restitution to victims of human trafficking and lead to increased penalties for crimes classified as human trafficking.

The legislation, approved during Tuesday's parliamentary session, will also provide for the prosecution of anyone found to be conspiring to commit trafficking in persons, which seeks to suppress Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children and will put the country in line with the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime.

The Bill also expands the definition as it relates to exploitation to add to the instances in which persons are held in bondage.

Last month, following the release...