Young: TT does not recognise refugee, asylum status

NATIONAL Security Minister Stuart Young says government is following process when it comes to the Cuban refugees and asylum seekers camped outside the United Nations office at Chancery Lane, Port of Spain, for the past two weeks.

Even as the Cubans demanded that they be treated fairly, Young admitted there is no legislation in place locally which recognises someone who comes into the country as a refugee or seeking asylum.

He was answering questions from reporters during a post-Cabinet media briefing at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort in Tobago yesterday.

“The process that is taking place now, that is been facilitated by Living Water and the UNHCR is something that I’ve told them in my conversations, when I get back to Trinidad I would engage them in conversation as to how we go forward.”

Young said the “mob” started off with four people and eventually increased to some 200 people.

“On Thursday I called a meeting. I spoke personally to the UNHCR, I spoke to the Living Water Community, I spoke to Immigration and to the police at the Ministry of National Security where the deputy permanent secretary chaired the meeting.

“Everyone sat at the table, took certain decisions. The UNHCR then went and engaged in conversations with those persons who were outside on Chancery Lane and basically told them, ‘You have to vacate, this is a public area, it’s a sidewalk that is being blocked, and if you don’t the local law would have to be enforced.’”