MORE VENE REFUGEES FOR T&T

BRACE for more illegal Venezuelan refugees in Trinidad and Tobago!

President Nicholas Maduro’s decision to block free and fair presidential election and the re-imposition of American economic sanctions would lead to more hardship in troubled Venezuela.

That is expected to cause a flight of more suffering people, with most heading to other South American countries, some chancing it to the United States, and others braving the high seas to T&T.

Already, Maria Corina Machado, who is barred from contesting the presidential election, is warning about more distressed Venezuelans fleeing the country.

Around seven million Venezuelans – a quarter of the population of 28.2 million – have run off since 2015, with some six million going to Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and other neighbouring lands, while others attempt to sneak into the US through Central America.

Estimates of the number in T&T are as high as 100,000, with more enduring the treacherous waters to enter through porous southern borders.

Some are victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Scores of females are employed at bars, nightclubs, restaurants and other hospitality places, often at minimum wage, long work hours, and without National Insurance payments.

Several beg for alms in commercial areas, often with placards explaining their financial plight and in the company of their small children.

There is no official system to provide social welfare support to the parents or enroll the children in school. 

Many huddle in cramped rented apartments, especially in rural communities.

Now that disturbing state of affairs is expected to worsen.

The reintroduction of economic sanctions would almost surely bring more pain for Venezuelans.

They already bear an astronomical cost of living, high unemployment, scarcity of essential services, and a weak public medical system.

Machado said in an international interview: “The only way people will stop fleeing is if they see a future in their country and that will happen if we defeat Maduro.”
The Venezuelan Supreme Court, which is controlled by Maduro, has disqualified Machado from contesting the polls.

The US quickly re-imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s mining company, and a ban on oil and gas trade is expected within the next few weeks.

The Americans stressed that the economic blockade will be implemented if there is no progress on “allowing presidential candidates to compete in this year’s election.”

The sanctions were imposed in 2017 but lifted after an agreement in Barbados between Maduro and the Opposition on free and fair election.

The US said that “the Barbados electoral roadmap remains the most viable mechanism for resolving Venezuela’s longstanding political, economic and humanitarian crisis.”

Political observers say that Maduro would lose a fair election, leaving him vulnerable to arrest and conviction since he is indicted in the US on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy and conspiring to traffic cocaine.

If he faces a court trial and is found guilty, Maduro could spend the rest of his life in an American prison.

Maduro and 14 others are alleged to have partnered with Colombian guerrilla group FARC in narco operations.