9 migrant children released but mothers remain in quarantine

ATTORNEY Nafeesa Mohammed on Saturday said she is hopeful that the remaining seven Venezuelan children and their relatives who are still being held at the State's quarantine detention facility at the Chaguaramas Heliport will be released next week.

Nine of 16 children were released on December 31 and reunited with their fathers.

Sunday Newsday was told that seven children and nine women are still at the heliport. Commenting on the status of the nine children who were released last week, Mohammed said, "It is all well and good that they went into the arms of their fathers who are lawfully here. But now they are separated from their mothers."

She added, "So it's a new trauma for these children."

Mohammed disclosed that the father of two of the children, left them at the place they are staying to find transport "and when he came back those children were crying."

She said she spoke with another Venezuelan national, who is resident in TT and helping these people, who suggested that it would be useful to help preoccupy the children over the weekend.

Mohammed said some migrants are staying in locations which will allow the children to have a meal and play together.

"Nothing has happened this weekend. But I am hoping and praying that on Monday, that we can continue to make representations to the Immigration (Division) to release the mothers and the other children who are in there."

Mohammed explained the next of kin of these people "have certificates of constancy from the Venezuelan Embassy" and spent all of December 31 at the Immigrations Division's offices in Port of Spain, trying to get them released.

She said when people enter TT illegally, immigration has the power to charge them for committing an offence. Mohammed added that immigration also has powers to allow people in such situations "to be released on orders of supervision."

While TT's borders remained closed due to the covid19 pandemic, Mohammed said the Venezuelan migrants who are here will cooperate with the authorities.

"We don't have to be so mean and cruel, to continue to treat them like criminals, that they have to keep them behind bars."

Mohammed said the 14-day quarantine period for the Venezuelans at the heliport ended on December 21.

"I am hoping and praying that the rest will be released, conditionally." Mohammed said this will allow families to be reunited.

Mohammed recalled that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been incorporated into TT's existing children's legislation. She said under the Convention of the Rights of the Child, the right to the reunification of families is essential. Mohammed explained the convention defines a family as mother, father and children.

She lamented that she does not have the ability to communicate directly with National Security Minister Stuart Young on this matter.

Mohammed was hopeful that Young could assist.

"This is a humanitarian crisis."

Young did not respond to messages seeking comment.