Mondello praises Govt

US Ambassador to TT Joseph Mondello has commended a decision by government to extend the status of registered Venezuelans in the country. In June 2019, government allowed more than 16,000 Venezuelans to register to work and live here for a year.

In the House, two Fridays ago, the Prime Minister was asked by the Opposition what was the status of the Venezuelans as one year had passed. Dr Rowley in response announced that the cards issued last year to Venezuelans who fled economic hardship in their homeland will remain valid until December.

Mondello spoke about the issue in a release commemorating the 20th annual World Refugee Day on Saturday. “The United States of America appreciates and applauds Trinbagonians, especially those whose own resources are already scarce, who have opened their communities and continue to make critical contributions to support the people of Venezuela.

“We welcomed the effort by the TT government, through last year’s registration process, to expand opportunities for 16,523 displaced Venezuelans and refugees to thrive in their new host communities through increased access to legal employment, basic healthcare, and testing for covid19. We are encouraged by the Government’s commitment to extend the registration through the end of the year.”

He said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has identified the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis as the largest in the history of the Western Hemisphere.

“Hospitals in Venezuela lack equipment, medicine, and basic health supplies, including water and vaccines, which has led to a resurgence of preventable diseases. Covid19 is further exacerbating an already depleted health system. Electrical blackouts are the norm leading to shortages of clean drinking water.

“Food is scarce with over nine million Venezuelans moderately or severely in need of food assistance. Over five million Venezuelans have been forced to flee their homes by the corrupt Maduro regime, with many thousands desperately finding their way to the shores of TT.”

He said the US remained committed to boosting local efforts to assist displaced Venezuelans and refugees, and the gracious Trinbagonian communities that host them. He reported that the US has spent US $7 million dollars over the last three fiscal years to help efforts right here in TT.

He reported that last September the US Embassy partnered with the Ministry of Health and the TT Defence Force to facilitate a visit from the US Navy hospital ship Comfort, which provided medical services, optometry, dentistry, and physical therapy to more than 6,000 Venezuelan and Trinbagonian patients in Cedros and Point Fortin.

He also reported that in the wake of the covid19 pandemic the US-based non-governmental organization Spirit of America partnered with TTV Solidarity Network to distribute food hampers to more than 400 Venezuelan and Trinbagonian families in need.