[UPDATED] TT students based in India ‘excited’ to return on Tuesday

FIVE TT students who were studying in India will finally return home on Tuesday and they say they are “extremely eager and excited.”

In a release on Sunday, the Ministry of National Security said the students were granted their “final letters of exemption.”

“The ministry continues to work assiduously to process requests for exemptions from TT nationals.

“Exemptions to enter the country continue to be granted in collaboration with public health experts to mitigate the spread of covid19 by balancing the number of persons who are returning with available state quarantine facilities.”

Speaking with Newsday on Sunday afternoon, Tarun Maharaj - one of the students - said the entire group is grateful.

“Despite the journey being long, risky and treacherous, we are very grateful for the opportunity to be back on TT soil - a place that is known to be our home, a place where we can find solace and comfort, a place where we can reunite with our family, friends and create deeper bonds for the greater benefit of society.”

The students are currently self-quarantined in London and will arrive in Barbados on Tuesday, and will then arrive in TT later that evening.

They were based in Agra and had to first take a flight from New Dehli to Mumbai before venturing to London.

The flight will also bring two cruise ship members and a TT national who was in the UK.

They are expected to arrive in TT at approximately 5 pm.

This story was originally published with the title "TT students based in India to return on Tuesday" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

FIVE TT students who were studying in India will return home on Tuesday.

In a release on Sunday, the Ministry of National Security said the students were granted their “final letters of exemption."

“The ministry continues to work assiduously to process requests for exemptions from TT nationals.

"Exemptions to enter the country continue to be granted in collaboration with public health experts to mitigate the spread of covid19 by balancing the number of persons who are returning with available state quarantine facilities.”

The students are currently self-quarantined in London, England, and will arrive in Barbados on Tuesday, where they will then be brought to TT.

The flight will also bring two cruise ship members and a TT national who was in the UK.