Young: Nationals, families in Africa to come home

NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Stuart Young said on Saturday that as was done last year, he is hoping to have all nationals on the African continent returned to Trinidad and Tobago.

Young made the comment in relation to a plea by former opposition senator Taharqa Obika, who in a social media post appealed for his family to be allowed to return from Togo.

Speaking at the Prime Minister’s covid19 briefing on Saturday, Young said last year nationals in India, the US and other countries received exemptions to return and he also wants "all those in Africa to be facilitated."

Obika’s wife Togo-born wife is currently in her country with their young son and daughter. In Saturday's Newsday, Obika said last November he had applied for an exemption for his family to return to TT and when a new system was introduced in January he had re-applied in February. He said a reference number was issued but there has been no further information since then.

Young said he has allowed exemptions for non-nationals married to nationals in the past and continues to do so.

"For a long time we have been facilitating non-nationals who are married or related to nationals to be allowed into the country whether they have applied for permanent residency or not."

Young, in relation to other exemption issues, claimed some people have not been fully upright with their information when requesting permission to return, adding that there were those who live abroad and now, for whatever reason, were trying to get back home.

Regarding exemptions for animals, Young said that the guidelines were in the hands of the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Veterinary Officer in collaboration with the ministries of Health, Agriculture Land and Fisheries. He said the matter is being finalised between the ministries.

Commenting on the issue, Dr Rowley reminded that part of TT’s regulations was to curb the spread of rabies. He said dogs were already mandated to be quarantined when brought into the country.