Even as Venezuela temporarily opened its western border with Colombia to allow trade, T&T Customs and Excise officers yesterday reported a sharp drop in Venezuelan arrivals at the Cedros and Kings Wharf ports.
A source at Kings Wharf, San Fernando, said last month an average of 60 foreigners arrived a day. However, this figure had dropped by 90 per cent, the source added.
"Now we have more cargo vessels coming in and very few passengers," an official said.
At Cedros, an official said arrivals also dropped by 30 per cent. Cedros has been registering an increase in Venezuelans since 2013. Arrivals from Venezuela jumped by 6,000 between 2013 and 2014 from 15,008 to 21,052.
In an interview yesterday, a senior Customs official said the decrease in arrivals was occurring not because of Venezuela's open border with Colombia but because of stricter regulations enforced by the T&T Immigration Department.
"Venezuelans must present proof of lodging, an invitation letter and they must show they have sufficient funds before being allowed time to stay in Trinidad," he added.
Also in an interview yesterday, Venezuelan national, Leo Gonzales, said the new immigration rules were making it difficult for Venezuelans to come to Trinidad.
Asked why he had not taken advantage of the open border opportunity to go to Colombia for supplies, Gonzales said it would take him 32 hours of bus rides to get to the Colombian border and a four-hour boat ride to get to Trinidad.
"Which one of those would you choose?" he asked, smiling.
He said people from Caracas and Maracaibo would find it easier to reach the Colombian border.
Gonzales also said that fewer Venezuelans were coming to Trinidad within recent times because Immigration was allowing only four occupants in a pirogue.
"They are allowing only four people to come in. Venezuelans are paying to come here for three months. They need funds to come here to buy goods to feed their families because the Venezuelan economy is so bad but many people are running out of funds so people don't have the means to come here," Gonzales said.
Adding that Trinidad had tightened security, Gonzales called on the T&T Government to encourage trade with the Venezuelans.
"Set up a system where people who are skilled can come and find work here so they can feed their families," Gonzales added.
He also added that it was difficult for Venezuelans to get residency in Trinidad.
Mark Winter, a Trinidadian who married a Venezuelan and has two children, said his wife was still waiting for residency status.
He also said T&T Immigration officers were not granting extensions to Venezuelans.
"That is why people are overstaying their time. The authorities should grant them some time to stay in Trinidad. They are in dire need of help. If we were in that situation, we would expect people to help us," Winter added.
Mark Baxter, who lives in Kings Wharf, agreed with Winter. He said the Venezuelans presented a great opportunity for trade.