Uncertainty if Trump wins

Having heard a lot of his speeches and proposals on immigration, how he will deal with terrorism, and on economic proposals about bringing back jobs to America, Ragoonath told Newsday, it will depend on how far the Republican candidate goes in implementing his policies.

For instance, on the immigration policy, he said, “Does that mean that all undocumented Caribbean people will be sent back to the region?” If that is a case, he said, it is not only undocumented Mexicans who will be affected, if he starts adopting the policy of sending back undocumented nationals because many undocumented Caribbean nationals live in the US.

On the issue of Obamacare, he said, to an extent Caribbean citizens in the US will suffer. “I don’t know for sure how many will be affected, but I do know that a number of Caribbean nationals will be impacted upon.” In terms of dealing with terrorism, Ragoonath said, “if Trump decides that he is going to hold to put a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country, Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean nationals will be directly affected.” Many Muslims from the region travel to the US on officials and unofficial. “Does that mean they will all be left in the cold until Trump decides they can come or not?” he queried rhetorically.

TT was not necessarily safe from the influence of ISIS, he said, and the country may be looked at in a different light particularly as it relates to Muslims.

“We have to ask what does a Trump presidency mean for Trini Muslims,” he said.

The region does not know at this time what Trump will be presenting.

“We could only speculate at this time what he will want should he win the presidency.

We really have to wait during the post election period until inauguration. Then we will know what his initial plans are,” Ragoonath said. Noting that Trump has said that he wants to turn back the clock on various things that President Barrack Obama has put in place, Ragoonath said, “We don’t know exactly what he is going to turn back the clock on and how quickly. That will be our challenge.” Where Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is concerned, he said, “She has made it clear that it will basically be a continuation of Obama’s policies. We don’t expect any major upheavals in terms of her presidency.”