Trini-Venezuelans fear migration crisis

Javier Ramirez told Newsday he was closely monitoring the situation through correspondence with relatives who have already expressed their intention to leave Venezuela and come here before the end of the year.

“It’s really out of anyone’s control now,” Ramirez said.

“There’s no food, water is available on only some days and the violence is getting worse as the days go by. My brother is a police officer in the capital and he is in serious danger just because of his job.” Ramirez, who has been living legally in Trinidad for the past eleven years, works as a machine operator and vendor. He said while the majority of Venezuelans coming to Trinidad are only seeking work and refuge from the ongoing crisis, he was concerned that a minority of criminals may ruin the chances of law-abiding Venezuelans living here.

“This is a serious problem for us who only want to live in peace because anything they do reflects badly on us.” Another man who asked only to be identified as Romero said he was living here illegally and was afraid local authorities may become overwhelmed by an influx of immigrants from the mainland.

“When I left home two years ago, it wasn’t as bad as it is now and yet there was still a large number of people leaving.

“I have to ask what is going to happen now that people are rioting in the streets, of course it will only get worse!” Asked if he was optimistic that the release of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez from prison would be the first step to ending the violence, he said, “There’s a lot of ego on both sides. Too many of these politicians are playing games with people’s lives and it’s the responsibility of the man and woman in the street to put aside their differences and work for a better life.

All this fighting and rioting isn’t going to put food on your table.” Newsday attempted to contact officials at the Venezuelan Embassy but was unsuccessful.