Cubans claim refugees status in TT

He was speaking with the Newsday during the break period of the UNHCR and Living Water Community Refugee Awareness Workshop held at Bretton Hall, Victoria Avenue, Port-of-Spain. The event, held for the local media, was in commemoration of World Refugee Day on June 20th.

Barbados reported that as at December 2016 there were 321 refugees in Trinidad and Tobago, an increase of 40 percent. He said that the highest number are from Cuba followed by Venezuela, Syria and then Bangladesh. Coordinator of the ministry for migrants at Living Water Community, Rochelle Nakhid, had previously informed Newsday explained that in January 2013 there was an easing of restrictions with Cuba and a change of their migration law which resulted in increased freedom of movement and since that time Cubans have been “trickling ino the country.” This week in Parliament acting National Security Minister Dennis Moses said that the highest number of illegal immigrants in this country are from Venezuela. He reported that for the period January 1 to May 1, 2017 there were 15,042 illegal immigrants and of that figure 1,415 were Venezuelans, 326 Colombians, 217 Dominicans, 183 Chinese, 65 Guyanese, 39 Nigerians and 20 Jamaicans. In Venezuela at least 67 people have been killed during 12 weeks of anti-government protests and the country also faces an economic crisis and shortage of food and medical supplies.

During the workshop three groups of refugees, Venezuelan, Pakistani and Colombian, spoke of their stories; their identities were withheld for their protection. The Venezuelan family fled their country due to political persecution, the Pakistan group from religious persecution and the Colombian group, children who came with their parents, did not specify their reason.

The groups spoke of their difficulties dealing with the police and immigration. The issue of a lack of legislation to deal with refugees and most arrangements being on an ad hoc basis was repeatedly raised.

Barbado in a previous interview stressed that if there is no asylum procedure then people will seek a back-door route to stay in the country and it was important to have legislation to govern the process.

The legislation is currently at the draft stage. Yesterday Barbado told Newsday that the country was doing a “great job” and, after ratifying the refugee convention in 2000, had finalised the refugee policy in 2014 to take responsibility for international obligations.

On the workshop he explained that it was meant to familiarise the local media with the legal terminology, help them understand the challenges in the Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago and show how UNHCR is supporting refugees and what they are doing together with local authorities and civil society.

He noted that it was the first time having such a session in this country and it was quite successful with about 20 journalists in attendance.

Barbado reported that next week, together with the the UNHCR’s partner Living Water Community and the University of the West Indies, St Augustine they will host a week of events for the public to get acquainted with the plight of refugees in the country and the region.