3 Venezuelans taken to state quarantine facility

A VENEZUELAN family of three – a four-year-old boy with a heart condition, his sister and his mother – were removed from the Erin police station early on Thursday morning and taken to the State’s quarantine facility at the heliport in Chaguaramas in keeping with a court order.

Newsday understands the boy and his family were removed just before 2.30 am on Thursday and taken to the heliport. They, along with 23 other Venezuelans who returned to Trinidad on Tuesday after they were first deported on Sunday, are under quarantine orders.

Justice Quinlan-Williams’ order instructed the State to remove the family from the Erin police station no later than 6 am on Thursday, failing which the boy and the others were to be immediately released into his father’s custody.

The child’s father is a UNHCR cardholder. He has also applied for amnesty from the government but is yet to get his card. After the child and his family complete their 14-day quarantine, they will be released into his father’s custody. The Children’s Authority has inspected and approved the father’s home.

Similar applications were filed for the other Venezuelans and Newsday understands they are expected to be removed from the Erin police station in batches later today and taken to the heliport.

Early on Thursday, families of those still at the police station were camped outside after taking food supplies, and feminine hygiene products for the women.

Another hearing is expected to take place at 7 pm on Thursday.

Newsday also understands that the families for the 26 Venezuelans will try today to have them registered as asylum-seekers with the UNHCR.

At Wednesday’s hearing, the judge urged the State to establish a policy for asylum-seekers, since they could not come to the court daily seeking to prevent their deportation.

She also expressed concern that children were being held in jail-like facilities or in police stations, separated from their families. The judge also asked if they could be quarantined at home.

On Wednesday, attorneys for the group filed an injunction application, a constitutional motion and an applications for writ of habeas corpus, challenging the State’s move to send them back to Venezuela.

The claim also asked for an order for the State to determine the Venezuelans’ refugee status and whether they are entitled to protection under the principle of family unity, as well as under the protections afforded under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees, the national policy to address refugees and asylum matters, and the laws of Trinidad and TobagoT.

The group of 16 children and ten adults returned to TT three days after they were put in two pirogues and returned to Venezuelan waters by the Coast Guard.

Just before 1 pm on Tuesday, the group came ashore again in a pirogue at Los Iros beach.

Shortly afterwards, police arrived and took them to a nearby guesthouse, after which they were taken to the Siparia health facility. They are now being kept at the Erin police station.

On Sunday night, Quinlan-Williams ordered the Defence Force to produce the group of women and children on Monday in the writ of habeas corpus filed on their behalf.

But in court, the judge was told they were not in the custody of the Defence Force, since they had been taken to the maritime border between TT and Venezuela just before midday on Sunday.

Quinlan-Williams was told she could make no order for their return, since they were out of TT’s and hence the court’s jurisdiction.

The Venezuelans are represented by attorneys Gerald Ramdeen, Dayadai Harripaul, Umesh Maharaj and Nafeesa Mohammed.