Young: Citizens leaving TT must understand consequences

National Security Minister Stuart Young responded to calls from maritime workers asking to be given permission to leave TT for work, saying while they would be allowed to leave, they must understand the procedure for being allowed re-entry.

Young responded to Newsday via WhatsApp on Thursday afternoon. He said while permission would be granted, the workers must understand the possible consequences.

"We will allow nationals to leave, once they understand that if, when they wish to return, the borders are still closed, they will be subject to the process," Young said.

During the Ministry of Health's virtual covid19 update on Wednesday, Young said while local seasonal agriculture workers would be allowed to leave for Canada, they would be required to sign a a letter which will indemnify the State if they contract covid19 while abroad.

Newsday spoke to maritime worker Willard Francis, who said he worked aboard a supply vessel for an oil rig in Guyana, and called on government to grant him an exemption.

In another incident, sailor Marc Lorenzo Bodden instructed his attorneys Anand Ramlogan, SC, and Che Dindial to send a pre-action protocol letter threatening legal action unless he was allowed to return to TT.

Bodden left TT on March 14 to attend a four-day training course in Brazil.