[UPDATED] Mohammed: Repatriation Committee sidelined, but too early to speculate on Trinidad and Tobago refugees in Syria

REPATRIATION committee member and former speaker of the House Nizam Mohammed said it is too early to say what the situation will be with respect to the Trinidad and Tobago citizens being held in repatriation camps in Syria, after the overthrow of that country's president Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

Asad has sought asylum in Russia.

The leader of Syria’s biggest rebel faction, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is poised to chart the country’s future. The former al-Qaeda commander cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance.

His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the UN.

Mohammed is part of a three-person repatriation committee created by the government, along with former diplomat Patrick Edwards and Kewsi Atiba. It works alongside an inter-ministerial committee called Task Force Nightingale that was formed in 2018.

Speaking with Newsday via phone on December 11, Mohammed said the situation continued to be very complex with the uncertainties taking place in the Middle East.

“Before we can ascertain the current situation, we have to wait to see and hope that those who are controlling the camp can be accessed in order for us to relate with the people who are in detention. It is too early to say.”

He said the work of the repatriation committee has halted because it has not been given the authority to move forward.

“We of the repatriation committee were told it was under the control of the National Security Ministry, which has given all the authority to the committee which preceded the establishment of our committee, which is Task Force Nightingale. Since they have taken over, our committee has been virtually sidelined.

“We can’t continue with the plans and strategies we had put together because the Task Force Nightingale, headed by someone in the ministry, says they’re not doing anything until legislation is passed. That position has brought the entire process to a standstill. We were hoping we would give priority to at least 80 people who are in refugee camps in north-east Syria but our authority to do so has been taken away from us and given to the original committee.”

Mohammed said in the past months, they would have liked to see action being taken to prepare the people identified, especially the women and children, for evacuation and for travel.

Meanwhile, Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally has called on government to do what it can to repatriate any TT children detained in camps in Syria,

In a statement on December 10, Rambally expressed concern about government's slow pace in repatriating TT children from Syria.

He said those efforts have been further complicated by Assad's ouster.

"This development adds an alarming layer of instability to an already dire humanitarian crisis," Rambally said. "I have repeatedly called for action, stressing the need to separate the plight of innocent children from that of adults accused of crimes."

Although the government established a special repatriation committee, he said, it has made hollow promises on umpteen occasions with little or no tangible progress.

He recalled that on October 10, the Prime Minister in his budget contribution, said legislation would be brought to Parliament to treat with the humanitarian issue of children in conflict zones.

"Yesterday (December 9) the Parliament effectively adjourned until the new year (2025)."

Rambally repeated: "However, the situation now demands urgency, especially as the political dynamics in Syria shift unpredictably.

He urged government to act swiftly by engaging international organisations, "including UNICEF and the Red Cross, and establishing secure channels to expedite the safe return of these children.

"Their welfare cannot be left in limbo. I implore the government to prioritise this issue before further complications arise, risking the lives and futures of these vulnerable young citizens."

He said the country had "a moral and constitutional duty to protect our children, no matter where they are. Let us fulfil it without further delay."

On January 26 in the House of Representatives, Dr Rowley said, "The Government of TT is committed to ensuring that the return of qualified persons is organised in a way that balances the needs of those returning with the national-security considerations that's in the best interest of TT."

Rowley said this was "a highly sensitive and complex matter."

He reminded MPs that last March, Government took a policy decision to try to repatriate ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)-affiliated TT nationals from various locations in Syria and Iraq.

Rowley said that involved creating the three-person repatriation committee working with Task Force Nightingale. He said this team provides an invaluable interface between civil society and Government in order to repatriate TT nationals in Syria and Iraq.

He added that the National Security Ministry continues to look at how to successfully reintegrate these expatriates into society while balancing national security considerations.

On April 19 in the House, he supported statements by National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds about bringing legislation to Parliament to treat with repatriating TT nationals from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq. Hinds said government had a Returnees Bill which would manage the safe return of the TT nationals in line with best international practice.

Rowley could not give a specific date when the bill would be debated. He said it was being prepared to be brought to Parliament and would be on the legislative agenda when it was ready.

Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, was mandated to draft this bill.

Rowley said, "This bill is in a very advanced stage of development."

Attempts to reach Hinds, Armour, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Amery Browne, and Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland via phone and WhatsApp message were unsuccessful.

(With reporting by Clint Chan Tack)

This story was originally published with the title 'Rambally: Bring Trinidad and Tobago children home from Syria' and has been updated to include additional details. See original post below.

CHAGUANAS West MP Dinesh Rambally has called on government to do what it can to repatriate any Trinidad and Tobago children detained in camps in Syria, after the overthrow of that country's president Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

Asad has sought asylum in Russia.

The leader of Syria’s biggest rebel faction, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is poised to chart the country’s future. The former al-Qaeda commander cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance.

His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the UN.

In a statement on December 10, Rambally expressed concern about government's slow pace in repatriating TT children from Syria.

He said those efforts have been further complicated by Assad's ouster.

"This development adds an alarming layer of instability to an already dire humanitarian crisis," Rambally said. "I have repeatedly called for action, stressing the need to separate the plight of innocent children from that of adults accused of crimes."

Although the government established a special repatriation committee, he said, it has made hollow promises on umpteen occasions with little or no tangible progress.

He recalled that on October 10, the Prime Minister in his budget contribution, said legislation would be brought to Parliament to treat with the humanitarian issue of children in conflict zones.

"Yesterday (December 9) the Parliament effectively adjourned until the new year (2025)."

Rambally repeated: "However, the situation now demands urgency, especially as the political dynamics in Syria shift unpredictably.

He urged government to act swiftly by engaging international organisations, "including UNICEF and the Red Cross, and establishing secure channels to expedite the safe return of these children.

"Their welfare cannot be left in limbo. I implore the government to prioritise this issue before further complications arise, risking the lives and futures of these vulnerable young citizens."

He said the country had "a moral and constitutional duty to protect our children, no matter where they are. Let us fulfil it without further delay."

On January 26 in the House of Representatives, Dr Rowley said, "The Governmment of Trinidad and Tobago is committed to ensuring that the return of qualified persons is organised in a way that balances the needs of those returning with the national-security considerations that's in the best interest of TT."

Rowley said this was "a highly sensitive and complex matter."

He reminded MPs that last March, Government took a policy decision to try to repatriate ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)-affiliated TT nationals from various locations in Syria and Iraq.

Rowley said that involved creating a three-person repatriation committee working alongside an inter-ministerial committee called Task Force Nightingale that was formed in 2018.

The team consists of former speaker of the House Nizam Mohammed, former diplomat Patrick Edwards and Kewsi Atiba. Rowley said this team provides an invaluable interface between civil society and Government in order to repatriate TT nationals in Syria and Iraq.

He added that the National Security Ministry continues to look at how to successfully reintegrate these expatriates into society while balancing national security considerations.

On April 19 in the House, he supported statements by National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds about bringing legislation to Parliament to treat with repatriating TT nationals from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq.

Rowley could not give a specific date when the bill would be debated. He said it was being prepared to be brought to Parliament and would be on the legislative agenda when it was ready.

Attorney General Reginald Armour was mandated to draft this bill.

Rowley said, "This bill is in a very advanced stage of development."

Hinds was unavailable for comment.