Govt and Independents bash UNC on Immigration Bill

THE OPPOSITION UNC received a double bashing from Government and Independent Senators over its refusal to support an amendment to the Immigration (Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals) Act 1996, which the UNC passed while it was in government.

During his contribution in the Upper House, Senate Opposition Leader Wade Mark described the amendment as a means of taking bread out of the mouths of citizens and giving it to Caricom nationals. He asked whether Government had devised a system where such Caricom nationals hoping to work in Trinidad and Tobago would use a common passport or a register of skills would be established to see where they could acquire jobs.  Mark alleged that the PNM was not sincere about the bill and could use it as a means to either introduce “scab labour” from other countries or tighten their grip on political power. “It looks like house padding..voter padding..free birth certificates,” he declared. Mark also alleged that under the Amended Act, the National Security Minister had a free reign to decide who could or could not enter the country. “TT citizens must come first. Caricom nationals after,” he declared.