CBTT pleads for help for displaced citizens

THE EDITOR: Citizens for a Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) is pleading for help for displaced nationals of TT. Many or our citizens have been deported back from North America for petty crimes even though they have lived there as permanent residents for decades. CBTT has been assisting some of these deportees to fit back into our society. However, they need more help from individuals, organisations and government to ensure that avenues are made available to them to secure jobs, so they can survive here. While many of our citizens may be quick to condemn deportees for even petty crimes committed, it is important that we understand that many of them were forced to leave spouses and young children even though they were penalised for their crime. This is very destructive to family life for these people.

CBTT is lobbying with organisations like Displaced Nationals in Crisis Coalition (DNICC) — a support group for deportees, headed by Trinidadian Marlene Jaggernauth to try to influence the American Government through the Congress and Senate to allow some of them to return to their families in the United States. Through the initiative of Ms Jaggernauth and others, the US Congress has decided to address the problems of deportees. Many of them are treated with scant courtesy by American and Canadian officials and are sent back with little personal possessions on their return here. On many occasions they have no one to receive them at the airport since they have no family ties in this country. CBTT has helped some of them but many others remain unemployed even though they are willing to accept employment of any type.

A few deportees have had to change their name in order to hide their true identity because people here are quick to condemn a deportee even though they may have been wrongfully jailed or committed a petty crime. Too many people behave as if they are without sin even though they are not, yet they are quick to condemn others who have repented and clearly need a second chance. We plead with government to address this issue more seriously. Many deportees are skillful people who can make a meaningful contribution to society. Let’s give them an opportunity to redeem themselves and not condemn all of them as hardened criminals.

HARRACK BALRAMSINGH
President CBTT
La Romaine