Size matters in TT

THE EDITOR: We are a tiny country of some 1.3 million people situated seven miles from Venezuela. You can actually see the lights of Caracas and the buildings from our shores.

It is well documented in the world media that there is a distinct possibility of civil war brewing in Venezuela. I will not waste time on the fine print. What is of grave local concern is that anywhere between 40,000 to 60,000 Venezuelans, and possibly more, have entered TT. Some legally, others illegally are already here. This letter is not about taking sides. The TT Government has agreed on non intervention in the politics of other countries.

Should civil war break out in Venezuela, our size matters. Our borders are already porous and guns and drugs have been traded by desperate Venezuelans in exchange for food. Reports of alleged human trafficking and Venezuelan women working as prostitutes abound.

Carnival 2019, the Police and Fire Departments closed down fee-paying fetes which were deemed dangerous depending on numbers of patrons. What happens to us all when we have too many legal and illegal "refugee patrons?" When and if registered, they will all be legally employed for a minimum of one year. Let us not walk down that road just yet that might ask for feasibility studies.

Already in the local news media mischievous comments have started, allegedly by the sitting Opposition, about the Government bringing in thousands of Venezuelans who will be allowed to vote in our general elections of 2020. This type of fake news will add to any alleged resentment some citizens may harbour regarding the government putting out a hand to help the Venezuelans.

Lynette Joseph, Diego Martin.