Maritime worker wants exemption to leave for work

A maritime worker is calling on the government to allow him to leave the country to work on a supply ship in Guyana for the next two months.

Speaking with Newsday on Thursday, Willard Francis said while he is mindful of the importance of regulating the country's borders during the covid19 pandemic, he is willing to take the risk and go to Guyana where he will work as a chief officer for a supply vessel.

Francis works for the ExxonMobil oil and gas company in Guyana and said he needs to be given the opportunity to support himself and his family.

On Wednesday, National Security Minister Young said seasonal agricultural workers who have applied for clearance to travel to Canada for work would do so at their own risk, and will be asked to sign a letter which will indemnify the State if they contract covid19 while there.

Francis said he would be willing to sign a similar document.

"It's hard on me because I have bills to pay. I wrote a letter to the government and I'm waiting for a response.

"Right now I'm frustrated because this is my only form of income and the bills just keep piling up on me."

In addition to being allowed to leave Trinidad, Francis said Trini workers aboard the vessel must also be allowed to return to home as they have been on the ship since January.

"I can only go to the vessel and begin work if they are allowed to return home. That's the policy and they are very frustrated because they were only supposed to spend two months aboard the ship and it's been more than five months so far."

Francis said US workers on the ship have already been replaced by a fresh batch of workers.

Newsday tried reaching Young for comment on the matter but was unsuccessful.