With thousands of Venezuelans already living in Trinidad illegally, Cedros Councillor Shankar Teelucksingh has moved a motion calling for better surveillance of the porous borders of the southwestern peninsula.
Speaking at the Siparia Regional Corporation's monthly statutory meeting on Thursday, Teelucksingh said Venezuelans are continuing to come through Cedros, Erin, Moruga and Carli Bay.
Saying an estimated 200 Venezuelans arrive weekly, Teelucksingh said the foreigners were putting a strain on the health services. He called for a system to be set up whereby ill and dehydrated Venezuelans could get immediate medical assistance. He also called for an end to the exploitation of the Venezuelans fleeing from the economic collapse of their homeland.
Teelucksingh said the influx of Venezuelans has contributed to a rampant increase in illegal items entering the country, adding that the radar system which keeps 24-hour surveillance on the coast is so outdated it is difficult to pinpoint the presence of smugglers. He also noted that the Cedros security base needed increased manpower to deal with the entry of the foreigners.
"Right now the station does not have the capacity to deal with the influx of Venezuelans and Colombians, as well as the illegal goods that are smuggled daily. Lots of money is spent on national security and the basic manpower constraints are not addressed," Teelucksingh added.
In the motion moved, Teelucksingh said the Venezuelans are subjected to exploitation because of the economic conditions in Venezuela.
"The T&T Government and its agencies must take steps to deal with its influx of illegal immigrants and in particular the social and economic impacts as a result of their demands and our social systems," he said.
"The Government must also take immediate steps to protect our borders by making greater use of the assets of the Coast Guard."
Calling for the Immigration Division in Cedros to be strengthened, he said the relevant international organisations with experience in migration should also be contacted to assist.
In a Sunday Guardian exclusive, a senior Customs officer said Venezuelans have been entering illegally through inlets along the southern coast, including Puerto Grande, Erin, Los Iros, Quinam and as far as Moruga. Other inlets used by smugglers were identified along the coastline at Guapo, Chatham, San Fernando, Vistabella and Marabella.
The Venezuelans are reported to be paying between US$200 to US$300 to get to Trinidad to seek a better life. Last week, National Security Minister promised increased border patrols along the coastlines. He said Government planned on getting 14 Coast Guard interceptor vessels back up and running in the shortest time.
During a recent visit by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to the Coast Guard’s headquarters, he was told that 25 interceptors were not working. The cost of getting the 14 boats back into service is $6 million. They will bring to 19 the total number of working interceptors. Young said they would be strategically placed along T&T’s coast on the basis of intelligence reports, among plans to defend the maritime borders.