Yesenia on visa policy: Caracas is a dangerous place

VENEZUELAN-born activist Yesenia Gonzales said she was not happy about the new visa policy for Venezuelans and expressed concern about the danger at Caracas where the TT Embassy is located.

"People want to come to Trinidad from a crisis. Who want to go Caracas and get a visa. That place is dangerous. They killing people every day. They should not implement that at all."

She also said there is a lack of flights to Venezuela.

"We cannot stop a humanitarian crisis. Venezuela is a time bomb."

Speaking yesterday in a telephone interview, she said she understood there is a lot of pressure for the Government but she does not think they have experience necessary to deal with the immigrants.

Gonzales said she was glad a lot of Venezuelans were able to register in the two-week process which allows them to live and work in TT for a year.

"They will be able to walk the street and not be persecuted by police and immigration officers."

It was reported by the National Security Ministry that more than 15,000 Venezuelans were able to register. Gonzales, however, said that a number of them were unable to register for various reasons including fear of deportation, illness and allegedly that they were chased away by the police. She said she has received messages from a number of them and she estimates about the figure is about 150. She said this week she will be meeting with lawyers to prepare a letter to the National Security Minister on these Venezuelans who did not register.

"I hope the minister will be able to solve the problem. What solution is for those who left?"

She questioned what happened to the Venezuelans at the Immigration Detention Centre who were scheduled to be included in the amnesty.

Gonzales also criticised the protests in front of registering Venezuelans last week led by social media personality Kia "Rankin Kia Boss" Hosein.

"I am not happy they using politics in a time of distress and (verbally) attacking them and laughing at them. It is very sad."

She said the Venezuelans on the street included children with fever who had to be taken to hospital for vomiting. Gonzales stressed there were more than 30 million people in Venezuela and a lot had already left for Colombia and Brazil.

"Just a few hundred here in Trinidad."

On a positive note she expressed thanks on behalf of the Venezuelan refugees for those who brought food, water, clothes and shelter including private companies like Digicel and Marios, NGOs like Living Water Community and churches.

"We have no words to describe how thankful we are."

She also expressed thanks to the media for their support of the refugees and for the police that protected them.

"It was amazing to see how many so many people, so many Trinidadians there for them."