The Trinidad and Tobago government Friday reiterated there would be no extension of the two week registration exercise for all Venezuelans residing here both legally and illegally.
Both Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and National Security Minister Stuart Young said that the exercise at the three locations across the country would end at 5.00 pm (local time) and Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said that anyone who were not granted permission to stay in the country would be deported.
“Madam Speaker in very clear terms this government has outlined its position and th position of the people of Trinidad and Tobago in providing this two week window where persons who have come to Trinidad and Tobago from Venezuela are able to register and get some relief for a period of one year,” Prime Minister Rowley told Parliament.
He said “the period ends today…but the Minister of National Security and those involved are going to be as humane as possible but at the end of the day whatever time it ends tonight that is the end of the registration process”.
Rowley said that persons waiting in line when the registration exercise closes would also be given an opportunity to be accommodated, making it clear however that the Immigration Department would be the sole authority in that respect.
“Madam Speaker the way it will operate is that those persons who are in the compound, in the facility, in the line, those persons will be at the end of the day even if the registration process…are not completed, they will be identified by a dated number which will allow the process to be completed tomorrow or Sunday.
“However, those persons who are at the end of the line today that is the end of the process of the two-week registration. It is supposed to end at 5’0’ clock and all persons who are there will be identified and acknowledged and be registered in this exercise, after that the normal immigration process will apply” Rowley said.
Young told legislators that when the exercise ends on Friday “we have already worked out a system that has actually been implemented during the course of this week…where persons who are present, photographs be taken of them, they would be given a slip and a chit with a unique identification mark and date on it, and a stamp and number.
“That is the way we will be able to complete their registration process,’ Young said in response to questions from the opposition.
Rowley said that the Venezuelan exercise also provided an opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago to deal with a situation where a number of nationals from various African countries have been detained at the Immigration Detention Centre.
“We are taking the opportunity because we are handling this Venezuelan situation…and if they do not have criminal association or labelled as criminals we will take the opportunity…to extend to them what has been extended to the Venezuelans,” Rowley said.
The Venezuelans have been fleeing to Trinidad and Tobago to escape the economic and political situation in their country where opposition forces, backed by the United States are seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power.
Trinidad and Tobago has joined its Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states in adopting a non-interference and non-intervention in the internal affairs of the South American country.
Meanwhile, Griffith has warned that the police would act to ensure the immigration laws are not breached.
“So after tomorrow…if you don’t have a ticket you don’t have a chance. If you don’t have that document it means you are here illegally, you do not have that amnesty and it means that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service we are obliged to adhere to our responsibility to have that person held, they are nit prisoners, but they will be sent to the immigration Detention Centre and therefore immediate deportation,” Griffith said.
The Police Commissioner said that the situation would apply to all persons, not only Venezuelans, who do not have documentation.
“Those who have, if at any time they are deemed a threat to national security…it gives the police the right to have those persons also held and they will also be deported,” he said.
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