Exemptions will never be fair

THE EDITOR: The question has been asked time and time again: who are the neutral parties in the exemption process to ensure every citizen applying is treated fairly? I am certain there is no one.

In this case, whoever is in control will favour their own; that is basic human behaviour, whether in Trinidad and Tobago or anywhere else.

In this country, it is all about who you know, who you are, your standing in society and most importantly...who knows you. Let’s stop fooling ourselves into believing it is otherwise, especially if you’re on the outside and have applied months ago for an exemption to come back home.

My humble advice is to think twice before you leave the country especially if you are an ordinary “Joe” with no clout behind your name or the job you do. You may very well find yourself stranded out there begging for lodgings, unable to return home.

There are still citizens who continue to beg to come back home, week in week out, while others can in the shortest of time apply to go out and come back into TT and get the approval. Is this fair? No, but it is what it is.

Who are people trying to fool when they talk about fairness in the issue of exemptions? This is how it works in sweet TT. What makes matters worse is seeing individuals fighting hard to defend this type of behaviour, when the issue is brought to the public’s attention.

So again, I advise, unless it is absolutely necessary, keep yourself home in TT, unless you have links with those in charge or an Angel who can transport you back in. I continue to pray for all those stranded Trinis who have applied for months and remain stuck wherever they are in the big, wide world while watching the privileged and connected, leave and return at their whim and fancy. That’s life.

ARNOLD GOPEESINGH

San Juan