Barbados is formulating a comprehensive action plan to address the United States’ decision to downgrade its human trafficking efforts, Attorney General Dale Marshall announced on Thursday. This comes in response to the US State Department’s criticism that the island nation failed to prosecute trafficking cases or assist victims for the third consecutive year. The downgrade, which moved Barbados from Tier 2 to the Tier 2 Watch List in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, has prompted Bridgetown to intensify its efforts to reverse the decision. Marshall expressed confidence that the proposed measures would persuade the US to reconsider its assessment. He emphasized that the downgrade was based on US domestic law, specifically the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, rather than international standards. Marshall defended Barbados’ commitment to combating human trafficking, stating that the government takes the issue ‘very seriously’ and has redoubled its efforts in recent years. However, he acknowledged that the number of trafficking cases in Barbados is relatively low, which influences the scale of the response. The Attorney General also rejected Washington’s recommendation to establish specialized courts for trafficking cases, citing feasibility concerns. Barbados has previously been on the Tier 2 Watch List between 2011-2013 and 2019-2021. The TIP Report highlighted several shortcomings, including the absence of trafficking investigations, prosecutions, or victim assistance during the reporting period. While the government has conducted public awareness campaigns and screened vulnerable populations, these efforts were deemed insufficient to maintain its Tier 2 status. The US also criticized provisions in Barbados’ Trafficking in Persons Prevention Act that allow fines instead of imprisonment for sex trafficking, arguing that such penalties undermine the severity of the offense. Systemic issues, such as limited resources, court backlogs, and the prioritization of other crimes by law enforcement, were also cited as contributing factors. Despite these challenges, Barbados remains determined to address the concerns and improve its standing in future TIP reports.