CHINESE TAKEAWAY

The ten employees of the Me Asia Restaurant at the corner of Maraval and Tragarete roads in Portof- Spain were rounded-up shortly after 2 pm.

According to reports, CTU officers __ acting on information and accompanied by police officers, officers from the Immigration Department and Public Health Inspectorate surrounded the restaurant and began the process of detaining four females and six males, all nationals of China. At the time of the raid, some of the foreigners were in the kitchen area while others who serving customers.

While his workers were being herded into the TTPS bus, the owner identified only as ‘Chet’ protested vehemently, asking the officers in broken English if they had any warrant giving them the right to take away the ten. When the officers continued to escort his workers into the bus, Chet threatened legal action insisting that all his employees are legally working in TT and should not be subjected to this action.

As a result of the raid, the restaurant’s operations ceased for the day and some customers who paid for food and were waiting, had to be refunded. Some of the detainees began shouting as they spoke in Chinese. The ten were taken to the CTU offices on Abercromby Street in Port-of-Spain, where they are expected to be interviewed by an interpreter employed at the Unit.

Sources revealed that several Chinese restaurants throughout the country have been employing scab labour and officers of the CTU are of the opinion that some of the persons working in restaurants and casinos were brought to TT illegally and kept in deplorable and inhumane conditions.

Contacted for comment, ‘Chet’ told Newsday, “the police came without warrant and I am going to the Police Station to find out about my workers.

They all here legally...they have done nothing wrong and I have to seek their welfare.” The National Security Ministry, in a press release, advised that investigations are underway, “to ascertain labour exploitation, immigration and other breaches at the Me Asia Cantonese Restaurant on Ariapita Avenue.” The release added that the CTU was assisted by PoS police, the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF), Public Health Inspectors and Labour Inspectors.

The release noted the CTU is interviewing several foreign Asian nationals with respect to possible labour exploitation under the TT Trafficking in Persons Act.

Other agencies are also conducting interviews on possible public health violations.