A/HRC/15/14 gay, bisexual and transgender people; and indigenous communities. The United States made recommendations. 62. Jamaica stated that Guyana enjoyed very close relations with it both bilaterally and as members of the Caribbean Community, and that it had a greater understanding of the socio-economic challenges confronting Guyana. Jamaica commended Guyana on programmes in the areas of health, water, sanitation and education. Jamaica also noted the special attention devoted to the most vulnerable groups within society, such as women, children and Amerindian communities. 63. Trinidad and Tobago stated that Guyana had sought to progressively address historical wrongs and forms of exclusion to ensure that its people could freely exercise their human rights. It commended Guyana for the legislation permitting the titled ownership of land by indigenous peoples, and measures for their better integration into Guyanese society. It also noted the establishment of several parliamentary commissions in relation to human rights. Trinidad and Tobago also appreciated the prudent approach taken to supplant conflict and contention with conversation and consensus; the review of the age of criminal responsibility; the development of comprehensive empirical studies to assess the incidence of prostitution within the secondary school system; and the design and implementation of intervention strategies to reduce and eliminate the sexual exploitation of all children. 64. Slovakia commended Guyana for the establishment of five parliamentary commissions dedicated to human rights. However, it commented that capital punishment was mandatory for the most serious crimes and that new death sentences had continued to be handed down even in 2009, despite a de facto moratorium on the death penalty since 1997. Slovakia mentioned the concerns expressed and observations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2004 and by the ILO Committee of Experts in 2009 about the increased reporting of the ill treatment of children. Slovakia made recommendations. 65. Haiti referred to the progress achieved and challenges faced in protecting human rights, welcoming the fact that international instruments could be invoked in courts. Haiti referred to the 2006 report of the Independent Expert on minorities, which indicated that Afro-Guyanese people could not fully participate in political life and did not fully enjoy equal rights in various areas. Haiti asked what measures had been taken to tackle those issues. Haiti made recommendations. 66. The delegation of Guyana responded to issues raised during the interactive dialogue. In relation to discrimination against the indigenous community, the delegation reiterated that there was a specific ministry and specific legislation to ensure that issues relating to indigenous communities were addressed. Some sections of society believed that too much was being done, and there was thus a need to strike a delicate balance. If there was any discrimination, it was positive discrimination to close the gap due to historical neglect. In relation to the employment of Afro-Guyanese persons, the delegation reiterated that there was no policy against any particular group and disagreed with the report of the United Nations Independent Expert on minorities, as adumbrated in Guyana’s response. 67. With respect to extrajudicial killings, in recent times there had been considerable improvement. Concerning the issue of child prostitution, the delegation indicated that Guyana did not have widespread child prostitution. Regarding the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, there was some degree of tolerance, but there remained a need for education and awareness, and that would take time. The delegation thanked Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for their respective statements. With regard to the low age of criminal responsibility, the delegation noted that a draft Juvenile Justice Bill was being contemplated, reiterating that facilities were being completed to separate juvenile prisoners. In relation to the issuance of standing invitations, the delegation indicated that 12