Dillon considers using V’zuelan Coast Guard to repatriate detainees

MINISTER of National Security Edmund Dillon is exploring the possibility of having Venezuela’s Coast Guard return 83 illegal Venezuelan immigrants to their homeland. He said such a move would be more cost-effective than chartering an aircraft.

Last month he suggested that the TT Coast Guard transport the immigrants back to Venezuela, but in a meeting with Venezuelan Ambassador Coromoto Godoy Calderon on Tuesday, the option of using the Venezuelan Coast Guard was discussed.

Yesterday, Dillon told Newsday talks were very fruitful and, up until yesterday, more than 20 of the detainees had already secured documents to ensure their return to Venezuela.

He also revealed that arrangements are being made to have at least 15 of them taken from the Immigration Detention Centre daily to the Venezuelan Embassy to have the documents processed. He said the process of sending back the detainees, mostly women, could begin either later this week or early next week.

Venezuelans are allowed into this country by boat and there is no visa requirement.

Dillon said he was aware of the influx of Venezuelans into this country because of their worsening economic situation, and measures have been put into place to deal with the heightened possibility of human trafficking.