Don’t criminalise immigrants

THE Assembly of Caribbean People (ACP) yesterday cautioned Government against “criminalising immigrants” as it seeks to uphold TT’s laws. ACP chairman Ozzie Warwick offered this advice, in response to statement made by National Security Minister Stuart Young in the Senate on Tuesday.

Independent Senator Paul Richards asked Young if Venezuelans in TT have been trying to intimidate Immigration offices on behalf of incoming relatives or friends. Young said non-nationals found to have been involved in criminal activity, been criminally charged and criminally convicted, would be deported.

At a news conference held by the ACP at the Hotel Normandie, Warwick said Young’s statements were similar to rhetoric in other parts of the world, such as the the United Kingdom (Brexit) and in the United States (during the 2016 US presidential elections). “We are not hearing whether the Government is coming with a migration policy,” Warwick said.

He added built into this policy “will be issues around how do you deal with these various crises.”

Warwick warned that ad hoc decisions could be taken in the absence of a migration policy. These decisions, he continued “may not be in the interest of the people here or in Venezuela.”

Warwick said Caribbean people have “a greater sensitivity” on these issues because of the long history of migration to and from Venezuela. He also said ACP supports TT’s position of non-intervention in Venezuela’s affairs. Warwick said the Assembly is concerned that Caricom is divided over how to resolve the Venezuelan crisis. Warwick said Caricom now “needs to be more united than ever.”In addition to a regional declaration on Venezuela at the ACP’s meeting in TT in August, Warwick said individual nations will pursue programmes of action to “lobby and influence their national governments to carry that line and that position.” He said Caribbean people must be united in reaffirming their right to sovereignty and self-determination.

Former foreign affairs minister Ralph Maraj said there was nothing wrong with Young saying that Venezuelan nationals would be sent home if they break TT’s laws. “That is understandable,” Maraj said. He added that Venezuelans could not be allowed refuge in TT and then act unlawfully. Maraj believed TT should have a refugee policy as a signatory to United Nations conventions on refugees.