Trinidadians stage protest over Venezuelan immigrants

Protesters outside Queens Park Oval in Trinidad upset over influx of Venezuelans

Over 1oo frustrated Trinidad nationals took to the Queen’s Park Oval on Thursday night to protest against Venezuelan migrants being allowed to register to work in Trinidad according to Newsday Trinidad.

While there has always been migration between Trinidad and Venezuela there has been a recent influx of Venezuelan refugees fleeing to Trinidad over the political and economic crisis in their home country.

Trinidadians are concerned over the negative implications for their society and economy that a wave of immigration might bring in particular over competition for jobs.

Protesters alternately chanted “close the borders”, “call the election” and “Rowley must go” just metres away from the heavy police presence and the area where Venezuelans were being registered.

The protest action took place on the last day of a two week amnesty that began on May 31st. This registration will allow Venezuelans to legally work in Trinidad for 1 year.

 

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25 Comments

  1. Nrt
    June 17, 2019

    There better be protests based on the numbers, because with a population of 32 mil they can easily and quickly overwhelm and dwarf TnT’s 1.2 mil people, just as our 60 thousand population is currently being dwarfed & overwhelmed left, right and center by Haiti’s 10 mil+ population. I am not against my Haitian people coming here but by the numbers even the Haitian friends I’ve talked to agree that this migration needs to be managed properly by Dominica and CARICOM for it to benefit all involved. Very very serious state of affairs.

  2. KIP
    June 15, 2019

    Cold and heartless protesters.

    • their right to protest
      June 15, 2019

      Why are the protesters cold and heartless? Because they are reminding their government of its first priority; which is to protect the interests of Trinis? We Dominicans should be protesting everyday about all the crap our government is imposing upon us on a regular basis. They sell our passports at a bargain to criminals and still will not account for the money they collect. Allow our Haitian brothers and sisters to arrive by the plane load knowing there is no work for us, far less for them. Run to patch up roads, buy and MRI machine quick, only because general elections coming soon. Many of us will not go out there and protest because there is sure to be repercussions. The difference between the Trinis and us is, they are not afraid.

    • Amazin
      June 15, 2019

      They shouldn’t be fleeing their country in the first place. If you feel sorry for them then do not support our current government because they stubbornly stand with Maduro even now when it is more than obvious that his mafia regime is destroying the country.

    • Mr. Ben Dover
      June 17, 2019

      whats your take on haitians flooding our shores?

  3. Flat Tire
    June 15, 2019

    DNO I not sure if is to read your news again because you come and give us views of Peter Wicham …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
    ADMIN: We are not certain what your point here is here but this is entirely off-topic. You can re-post under a relevant story.

    • Amazin
      June 15, 2019

      Lmao even biased fake news deserves a platform even if its so people can point out how fake it is

  4. Dominican Citizen to the bone
    June 14, 2019

    It would be useful to find out what the arrival figures are from 2016 to present and prior to 2001. I think Dominicans have a right to know. We cannot say we have an estimated population of 70,000 people, and over 30,000 Haitians arriving between 2001 to 2015 and there is no records of their departure or of how many have been granted work residence status and or citizenship status.

    Another point to note is that the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica has been charging each Haitian arriving in Dominica US$400.00 or EC$1,068.00 based on an exchange rate of EC$2.67 being equivalent to US$1.00. Therefore between 2001 and 2015 the Government it is concluded have collected US$12,000,000.00 or EC$32,040,000. What has this money been used for.

    Please note I am not against Haitian migrants, however, I think a greater effort should be made to curtail illegal migration from Dominica and stop the scourge of Human Trafficking from our shore.

  5. Dominican Citizen to the bone
    June 14, 2019

    Interestingly there is no data on departures because we all the many of these Haitians arriving depart Dominica illegally for the more prosperous Caribbean countries.

    While I am not against Haitians coming to Dominica to work, every effort must be made to curtail illegal migration which will negatively affect Dominicans travelling to certain countries in the future

    I am calling for a National of Government and Opposition leaders, civil society and religious leaders to come together to find solutions to the increasing number of Haitians arriving legally on our shores but departing our shores illegally in the search for El Dorado? or Green Pastures?

    It would be useful to find out what the arrival figures are from 2016 to present and prior to 2001. I think Dominicans have a right to know. We cannot say we have an estimated population of 70,000 people, and over 30,000 Haitians arriving between 2001 to 2015 and there is no records of their departure or of how many have been…

  6. Dominican Citizen to the bone
    June 14, 2019

    The amnesty called by Dr. the Honorable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and leader of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) Party is in an effort to curtail the thousands of Venezuelan nationals fleeing the corrupt regime of President Nicholas Maduro which have bankrupted the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Many of these Venezuelans end up in Trinidad and Tobago.

    In the case of Dominica, thousands of Haitian migrants have emigrated to Dominica over the years and btween 2001 and 2015 over thirty thousand (30,000) Haitians have been granted legal entry into Dominica, with over fifteen thousand (15,000) arriving between 2003 and 2005. This information is not fake and is based on reports published by the National Tourism Office (Discover Dominica Authority) between 2001 and 2015.

    Interestingly there is no data on departures because we all the many of these Haitians arriving depart Dominica illegally for the more prosperous Caribbean…

  7. Bob Denis
    June 14, 2019

    It’s all HOOPLA , plan protest action organized by the INDIAN UNC opposition , mind you , their leader is Kamla Besessar- M , the very same who told us a few years back , that Trinidad is no longer the ATM of the Caribbean, while People of her kind went into Economic GRAFT mode , that had never been seen in the annals of Caribbean Politics . We the people have no problems having venezuelan’s in out midst , it is and will continue to be the best that can be done . Kamla and the UNC have forgotten their HISTORY as INDENTURED INDIAN Imigrants while they continue to straddle Trinidad with DIVISION and Incompetency . Seems like the registration of the Venezuelan’s could have devastating effects for Her “you ent see” UNC .

    • Amazin
      June 15, 2019

      You all will understand the hard way when venezuelans start bringing their nonsense to the caribbean countries. We do not need these people. Something should be done about their wannabr dictator and mafia state as soon as possible so that these people can return to live in and build their country, not flood to other people’s countries.

  8. Channel 1
    June 14, 2019

    Oh I see.

    But when Mr Trump tries to put measures in place to control and limit the influx of illegal immigrants into the US, the anti-Trump factions out there inclusive of the deluded democrats, their irrational supporters and the leftist media launch all sort of foolish resistance campaigns against his stance and plans on immigration control in the US.

    So other countries have the right to restrict or control who enters their borders but America under Trump doesn’t have the right to do so with its own borders eh.

    BUILD THE WALL MR TRUMP!!!!!! BUILD DAT WALL!!!!!!

    • LaPlaine Observer
      June 15, 2019

      Your total ignorance of the facts and the overall conversation that surrounds illegal/illegal immigration in the U.S , coupled with your “BUILD THE WALL” rhetoric which is being echoed by white nationalist and anti-immigrant sentiments in America and Europe, shows your lack of knowledge. The situation in Trinidad and the U.S border are not mutually exclusive because they both represents people fleeing all sorts of political and economic situation. I recommend a course in sociology to enlighten you.

      • Amazin
        June 15, 2019

        Jah listen to a dominican repeating this ‘white nationalists’ and ‘anti-immigrant’ crap. So you support the LGBT and pro-abortion agenda too? Stop listening to people like gay Don Lemon (yes he is a homosexual) on CNN that keep feeding you all lies.

        Every country has the right to protect its borders and control immigration and that includes Dominica, Trinidad and yes the United States too. There are people of every race in america who support Trump and want him to build the wall. What does that make them? Non-white nationalists?

        smdh

      • June 17, 2019

        If the haitians can’t come then no one else should !

        • God Helps Those who Helps Themselves
          June 17, 2019

          Uhuru. Well said. I agree with you 100%.

      • Delice Observer
        June 18, 2019

        Instead of making recommendations, please use your knowledge and intelligence to briefly explain the difference.
        Ppl need to hear.

  9. Neville
    June 14, 2019

    …and nobody got arrested?
    Must be a Dominican thing! You see what a crazy PM Dominica has. High Noon for him to go.

  10. Shaka zulu
    June 14, 2019

    Ok DNO i saw the headline and started reading and saw 100 people and did not bother read the rest. Trinidad has 1.3 million people in population so 100 people showing thier displeasure is not an eruption. I know you guys took from some other media but that is a perfect example of news sensationalism. This is like telling me termite infestation explosion in Dominica when one 600 s.f house in Clifton was found to have temimites in it kitchen.

    ADMIN: Point taken, the headline has been updated.

    • Shaka zulu
      June 14, 2019

      Admin appreciate your response and do appreciate your news. Your ability to accept constructive critic and make adjustments is commendable. Keep up your good work, keep improving.

      ADMIN: Thank you. We recognize the need for honest feedback and we appreciate it.

    • kubulol
      June 15, 2019

      OK ; but it does show the effect of this horrible dictatorship in Venezuela ; and no one should bring his support to Maduro.

  11. %
    June 14, 2019

    “”Who run tings in Dominica””? Buggy Skerrit, or we the people?
    So much money wasted just to stay in office, Venezuela needs more than US $ 100 000 000.00 from this wicked Skerrit led DLP!!!!

    • WeNiceMan
      June 14, 2019

      @ %

      Dude I’m all for an end to the Skerrit era in Dominica, but you need to get out of the basement and catch some air.

      Your posts are getting more incoherant every day.

      • %
        June 15, 2019

        @WeNiceMan
        Skerrit said “”I run ting’s in Dominica”!!!
        You need to shut up, and respond to the article/message, and not the messanger…You do not even know the meaning of incoherent..Go buy a pen and pencil and head to school ..Sot!
        Skerrit Must Go
        Skerrit Must Go
        Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now

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