Dillon: No significant increase in Venezuelans to TT

He was speaking with the media during the Police Service annual sports day on Saturday at the Police Training Academy, St James.

At least 39 people have been killed during a month and a half of protests by citizens and opposition forces against the government of President Nicol?s Maduro. The country has also been plagued by severe shortages of medical supplies and food, the latter of which Trinidad and Tobago provided assistance in 2016 by having locally manufactured goods sent to the country.

On Saturday, Dillon reported that there has not been a “substantial increase” of Venezuelans for this period. He pointed out that throughout history there has always been movement of Venezuelans and Trinidadians across the border. “And I am from Point Fortin and I can tell you I know Venezuelans coming across.” He said, however, that they have seen Venezuelans coming to purchase goods, especially food items, to take back to Venezuela.

Asked about Venezuelans remaining in the country illegally Dillon responded that there are some Venezuelans who enter the country and remain “but not a substantial amount.” He added that they have been able to track them as well and they have the figures, but reiterated that it was not large.

A group of Venezuelans in Trinidad have expressed solidarity with the protesters in Venezuela and held demonstrations at the Venezuelan Embassy and the Queen’s Park Savannah to denounce Maduro as a “dictator”. Last week the Joint Trade Union Movement visited the Venezuelan Embassy to express solidarity with Maduro and his government and blamed the suffering of the people on opposition forces.