Vision on Mission: Don't judge deportees

VISION on Mission (VoM) is hoping the general public will not stigmatise the 11 deportees who recently returned to TT, the NGO's head Giselle Chance told Newsday in an interview on April 2. She said VoM was offering help to those seeking it, as were the families of many of the returnees.

Newsday contacted VoM after seeing photographs of the deportees being posted on social media, sometimes to ominous background music.

Founded 20 years ago by Chance's deceased husband Wayne Chance, himself a former inmate, VoM's mission is to "reach out to every prisoner, ex-offender, deportee, delinquent youth and socially displaced person" so as "to restore a positive, productive, law-abiding citizen" to the communities, nation and world.

Chance said VoM had been present when the flight landed at Piarco Airport with the deportees, as she thanked the Ministry of National Security for contacting the NGO.

"Our representative was there. Transport was there for those who needed it."

Chance said VoM had interacted with deportees, in case any needed the NGO's help in future, if things did not work out with family members who were receiving them.

Newsday asked if she had any concern about stigmatisation and discrimination against the deportees, such as on social media.

Chance replied, "Yes. I am concerned about the way in which person's photos and information is being placed on social media, and the assumptions and conversations around their deportation.

"Now, they have to understand that there is a consequence for committing a crime, and that includes stigma and discrimination.

"However, it is important for us as a society to understand the need to be able to provide support to these persons' families and to the individuals who have been deported themselves."

She said deportees fell into two categories – those wanting reform and those leaning towards crime.

"You have those who want to come back and reintegrate properly and start a new process of rebuilding their lives, and do so in a positive manner and give back to society. Once they have that mindset and they have the support of their families and organisations like VoM, they can do well when they return."

However, she said stigmatisation and discrimination remains an issue.

"Locally, because of the high crime rate, unfortunately persons adopt an overall attitude of fear."

To curb this, public education and awareness were very important, she said.

"That is one of the things VoM will be looking at over the next couple of months, in anticipation of the number of deportees we expect to have in TT."

Chance said deportees have human rights.

"They have rights to be treated humanely, they have rights to access employment, they have the right to be safe. Those are basic human rights.

"When you meet them personally and also on social media, we have to be mindful, 'Am I violating someone's rights?', when speaking about them or their situation.

"So, we have to look at that."

Chance said discrimination could serve to alienate deportees over time.

"They are already dealing with the trauma of separation from a way of life – from their families, from their children, loved ones, etcetera who are abroad.

"They are dealing with the trauma of having to return to an environment that is not welcoming in the main."

Chance said stigma and discrimination can exacerbate the trauma of individuals who were already struggling to stay on the right side of the law.

"Yes, you have to be cautious and do the due diligence in dealing with these individuals, but what I am saying is that if we don't give them the opportunity to reintegrate in a positive manner they will gravitate towards the criminal element – which they will consider to be their own people – especially those who will have committed a crime before."

Chance detailed a second type of deportee – those who had been involved in very serious offences abroad such as gang-related activities.

"Those will not come to VoM as a first option. They would identify that organisation as one that is trying to get them away from what they consider to be their primary business to be, especially if they are not ready to change their lifestyle."

She said that type of deportee might try to acclimatise themselves to TT, including to its criminal element.

"We must be mindful of that. In that regard, I understand where the (public) fear comes from.

"However, we know what is happening."

She said TT has the intelligence, resources and capacity to understand this phenomenon and to put systems in place.

"If you have a flight manifest and out of 11 persons, you know four have a history of being in and out of prison, and being involved in certain types of activities, you are going to want to have to put a system in place to be able to monitor them to some extent. That is what I would advise.

"But the general public though, I would always say don't use fear and discrimination as your first opening line."

Chance urged people to try to be understanding and empathetic towards deportees.

"Be open to giving them opportunities to do things the right way."

Newsday asked if VoM liaised with the Ministry of Social Development to help provide emergency assistance to deportees.

She said, "Yes, we do have the ability to do that, if and where necessary. We will reach out to them and they will offer support where they are able to.

"We try to provide a bridge between our client – the deportee – and the social services. So our case worker will reach out to the relevant social representative in the ministry.

"Let's say an elderly person comes back, close to retirement, and they may not be ale to find employment readily. That happens, with a lot of our clients actually.

"They have lived abroad for most of their life, have not worked here, and they are coming back but have no (NIS) contributions inside. Those are the kinds of persons we tend to advocate on behalf of, through the ministry."

VoM sees what, if any, type of grant such people can receive, Chance said.

"A lot of them have health conditions. We work among the agencies for health and social services to ensure they receive that holistic care that they need."

Otherwise, Chance said VoM helps deportees with accommodation, meals, clothing and toiletries. It also helps with counselling, given that deportation can be a traumatic experience. VoM also helps with job-skills, retraining and development, plus help seeking out job opportunities.

She said each deportee has their own particular age, health status, employability and familial support.

"Every person has different needs."